Hibs Premier Sports Cup hopes ended with a defeat to Rangers at Ibrox tonight, despite a spirited performance.
David Gray made four changes to his starting XI that drew last weekend with Dundee United.
Raphael Sallinger, Grant Hanley, Jordan Obita and Miguel Chaiwa replaced Jordan Smith, Warren O’Hora and Jack Iredale, and Chris Cadden.
Under-fire Rangers boss Russell Martin made two changes, bringing back Nicolas Raskin and Derek Cornelius in place of Nasser Djiga and Connor Barron.
Ahead of kick off, outside the stadium, a group of Rangers fans made their feelings known about head coach Martin and chief executive Partick Stewart.
Inside the stands were sparsely populated at kick off although and the Hibs fans made their presence known with many wearing the new green and white hooped top.
Raskin had the first chance, but his shot was well wide before on-loan Tottenham Hotspur winger Mikey Moore required treatment after a heavy challenge.
In the 11th minute hundreds of small balls were thrown onto the pitch by the Rangers Ultras causing a few minutes delay.
Martin Boyle then broke the offside trap, but his low cross was held by Jack Butland with Kieran Bowie poised to strike.
Moments later Mulligan threaded a ball behind the Rangers defence to Bowie who rounded the keeper and set up Boyle, but his effort flew over the bar.
Then in the 18th minute Hibs fans thought they had opened the scoring when Boyle got on the end of long ball from Dylan Levitt and beat Butland, but the goal was ruled out due to a handball by the Australian international in the buildup.
Chaiwa did well to win possession in midfield and set up Boyle who was chopped down by Cornelius. Nicky Cadden’s free-kick struck Cornelius on the head and he required treatment.
Cadden then broke clear down the left wing but his attempted cross to Boyle was intercepted for a corner.
However with four minutes of the first-half remaining Rangers scored against the run of play when Raskin headed home a James Tavernier corner.
Hibs responded when Cadden’s cross found Boyle but the ball struck his shoulder and went inches past the post.
But in added time Rangers doubled their lead when Moore’s shot deflected into the path of Bojan Miovski who tapped the ball into the net from close range.
Hibs started the second-half on the front foot and Bowie had an early chance but fired wide from the edge of the penalty area.
At the other end Djeidi Gassama struck the bar with a deflected effort then he pounced on Obita’s poor pass back and sets up Miovski, but Hanley got back superbly to clear the striker’s shot on the line.
In the 58th minute Dan Barlaser replaced Levitt.
Rangers had the ball in the net again in the 67th miute but Miovski’s effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
Connor Barron replaces Mohamed Diomande in Rangers’ midfield before Chaiwa was harshly booked for a late challenge.
With 20-minutes remaining Junior Hoilett and Thibault Klidje replaced Jamie McGrath and Obita.
Hoilett is immediately into the action and set up Klidje who in turn found Bowie in front of goal, but the Rangers’ defence manage to get a block in.
Moore almost made it 3-0 with a long-range effort which flew inches wide.
Oliver Antman and big summer signing Youssef Chermiti replaced Moore and goalscorer Miovski in the 72nd minute.
Chris Cadden and Rudi Molotnikov replaced Boyle and Chaiwa with nine minutes remaining.
Findlay Curtis and Nedim Bajrami replaced Gassama Raskin, who was cheered off after his man of the match performance.
Youssef Chermiti almost made it 3-0 when sent clear but Sallinger stretched out a long leg to divert the low shot clear.
Four minutes were added and although Hibs continued to attack Rangers held on for the victory.
Hibs are back in action on Tuesday night away to Falkirk.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma, Raskin, Diomande, Aasgaard, Moore, Miovski, Gassama.
Substitutes: Kelly, Aarons, Barron, Chermiti, Bajrami, Antman, Djiga, Curtis, Danilo.
Hibs: Sallinger, Hanley, Bushiri, Obita, Mulligan, Levitt, Chaiwa, N Cadden, McGrath, Boyle, Bowie.
Substitutes: Smith, O’Hora, C Cadden, Iredale, Klidje, Barlaser, Hoilett, Campbell, Molotnikov.
