Rangers were brought back down to earth with a considerable bump after a 3-3 draw at Easter Road underlined their frailties when they take to the road.
Twice Hibs came back into a game they had been down and out in with this display perhaps Rangers’ season in microcosm.
Assured, confident and in firm control they were two goals to the good and cruising after just 19 minutes after Hamza Igmane had netted a brace. Come the 92nd minute as Martin Boyle flashed an effort inches wide of Liam Kelly’s post, they were on the ropes, all the energy and belief from their win over Celtic evaporated.
By that stage, Boyle had netted twice, once from nothing and once from the spot while Igamane had netted his hat-trick as Rangers thought they had weathered the storm and did enough to win it. Hibs came back again, Rocky Bushiri, defensively culpable but attackingly menacing, rose above everyone to head a point Hibs’ way.
Philippe Clement’s side have now shipped seven points from their last four games. Beating Celtic and the manner in which they did so will count for little more than the final flapping of the fish on the dock given an inability to sustain the same level, most notably when it comes to heading onto the road.
The start of this game was in sharp contrast to the end although Rangers were helped along by a Hibs side who not only afforded them acres of space at the back but who continually cited possession to their visitors.
When Lewis Miller conceded possession in the opening stages, the sense of unease along Hibs’ backline was palpable.
Scenting blood, Rangers duly manipulated the wobbles.
The weight of the pass for Ianis Hagi to Igamane for the opener was notable but its equal was the lack of green and white shirts as the striker swept the ball into the back of the net.
Emboldened, Rangers kept at it as Hibs struggled to keep them at bay.
Nedim Bajrami was allowed the chance to run in from the right before aiming an effort straight into the arms of Hibs keeper Jordan Smith.
There was no wake-up from Hibs as they continued to find themselves penned in.
Vaclav Cerny was denied by Smith but as Hibs failed to pick up in the box, Igamane had a free header to net his tenth goal of the season.
Slowly, Hibs tried to find a way out.
Boyle gave them a lifeline when he collected Bushiri’s cushioned pass before rifling a low shot past Liam Kelly and into the bottom corner.
They emerged from the break having gone to a back five in an attempt to stifle Rangers and plug the gaps but it was the Ibrox side who started the second period with more menace.
Smith had to dive to his left to parry an Igamane effort as the striker went on the hunt for his hat-trick.
For all Rangers’ dominance they found themselves pegged back after a moment of clumsiness from Hagi on Josh Campbell as he upended Campbell inside the box.
From the resultant penalty, Boyle lashed his effort high into the net to restore parity.
On the touchline, Clement threw his cap to the ground in frustration while his opposite number punched the air in delight. The stadium showed its appreciation for the Hibs manager who has come through a period of immense pressure as they chanted his name.
With their tails up and the dynamic of the game changed completely, Hibs looked to flip the narrative entirely.
Dwight Gayle had a header straight into the arms of Kelly while Miller came closer still with a header that bounced off the base of the post before Rangers scrambled the ball clear.
Up stepped Igamane to change the fortunes. The striker netted his hat-trick after Cerny picked him out with a low cross that he latched onto before driving into the net.
Back Hibs came again. It was Bushiri this time, rising above everyone to head in Nicky Cadden’s corner.
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