Match ends, Hibernian 1, Rangers 3.
James Tavernier marked his 400th Rangers appearance with his 101st goal as Hibernian suffered a near killer blow to their hopes of finishing third in the Scottish Premiership.
The right-back's first-ever goal for the Ibrox club came in his debut - on the same ground and also from a free-kick - in a 6-2 Challenge Cup victory in July 2015.
Now captain, the 31-year-old Englishman's 18th goal of the season came from a whipped delivery and Ianis Hagi made it two midway through the second half.
The Romanian midfielder, who spent more than a year on the sidelines through injury, appeared visibly emotional as he fired his first goal since 18 January 2022 before Todd Cantwell slotted the third.
Paul Hanlon's late headed reply came too late as Hibs are left six points behind third-top Aberdeen and four off Heart of Midlothian with only two games remaining.
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- Reaction & as it happened
Their four-game unbeaten run now over, Lee Johnson's side must beat champions Celtic on Wednesday - then win the final-day derby against Hearts - and hope their two rivals slip up to claim third spot.
For runners-up Rangers, it built on last week's impressive Old Firm derby victory as Michael Beale's side comfortably avoided a rare third consecutive away defeat.
Any thoughts that the visitors would be less motivated than their European-chasing hosts were quickly dispelled as John Souttar got his head to two corners in quick succession as the former Hearts centre-half looked to add to his Old Firm derby goal.
The first came off the crossbar before Hibs scrambled it clear and the second appeared to be slapped off the line by Marshall.
Hibs settled as they adapted to a Rangers midfield formation tweaked because of injuries and goalkeeper Robby McCrorie's increasing nervousness appeared to infect a back line shorn of Connor Goldson.
Kevin Nisbet flashed a header wide as strike partner Elie Youan began to give Tavernier a torrid time on Rangers' right.
However, just when it looked to be turning sour for the visiting skipper, he caught Marshall sleeping at his front post with a wicked in-swinging delivery from wide on Hibs' right to add to a tally that, amazingly for a defender, makes him the fifth top marksman since the Premiership began.
Nisbet's superb low cross with the outside of his boot laid it on the plate for Josh Campbell, but the midfielder poked it just wide as he slid in unmarked at the back post.
Hibs went close immediately after the break as McCrorie flapped as he challenged for a ball looped into his six-yard box and Nisbet's header somehow slipped wide of the gaping goal.
The increasing threat of a home comeback was doused when Hagi fired home from 16 yards after his first effort was blocked and Cantwell pounced when Tavernier's deflected effort came off Marshall's body.
Nisbet had also been thwarted by the near post and Hibs got the reward their efforts maybe deserved when centre-half Hanlon got on the end of a late corner.
Player of the match - Todd Cantwell (Rangers)
Rangers continue Easter Road dominance - analysis
Narrowing the gap with Celtic to eight points has come too late to prevent their Glasgow rivals retaining the title and Beale will realise that the recent stumbles from their city rivals have come when the battle was already won.
It simply continued a trend considering Rangers now are unbeaten in 10 visits to Easter Road - and in 19 league meetings with Hibs - and won 4-1 there on their last visit in March.
However, the English manager will take heart from the way they still managed to overcome a highly motivated side despite the latest clutch of injuries that meant an goalkeeper filling a place on the bench and will hope to build on that strength in depth during the summer transfer window.
Two consecutive home wins had revived Hibs' hopes of a third-place finish, but the failure to rattle a Rangers side reeling from injuries will be a sore one for Johnson and his side.
The home manager will, nevertheless, be pleased with the number of chances created and will know that, if they can be more clinical up front and tighten up at the back, they can still secure European football next season.
What they said
Hibs manager Lee Johnson: "Clearly, they are technically a better side than us, which you would expect, but when we countered, I thought we looked dangerous. We need more end product and we know that, so the boys have to be technically better and we need to recruit technically better.
"No way is it a foul for Rangers' first goal. He is a good player Cantwell, but he bought it. There's no way it is a foul and that is the damage that can be caused by bad refereeing decisions."
Rangers manager Michael Beale: "People won't know, but the preparation was horrific. However, the mentality of the starting team was fantastic.
"That was a big, important game for Hibs, but we looked comfortable throughout. We were the dominant team, we might have scored more."
What's next?
Hibs host Celtic on Wednesday while Rangers host Hearts (both 19:45 BST).
Line-ups
Hibernian
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Marshall
- 26Egan-RileySubstituted forMillerat 81'minutes
- 25Fish
- 4Hanlon
- 16Stevenson
- 14JeggoSubstituted forDoyle-Hayesat 59'minutesBooked at 73mins
- 12CaddenSubstituted forMcKirdyat 59'minutes
- 32CampbellSubstituted forHendersonat 59'minutes
- 11Newell
- 23YouanSubstituted forHoppeat 81'minutes
- 15NisbetBooked at 83mins
Substitutes
- 2Miller
- 3Cabraja
- 8Doyle-Hayes
- 13Hoppe
- 17Devlin
- 18Henderson
- 22McKirdy
- 31Johnson
- 33Bushiri
Rangers
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 28McCrorie
- 2Tavernier
- 16Souttar
- 38King
- 3Yilmaz
- 4Lundstram
- 43RaskinSubstituted forArfieldat 53'minutes
- 13CantwellBooked at 74minsSubstituted forMcCauslandat 88'minutes
- 8JackSubstituted forLyallat 89'minutes
- 30SakalaSubstituted forUreat 89'minutes
- 7HagiSubstituted forLowryat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 1McGregor
- 17Matondo
- 33McLaughlin
- 37Arfield
- 44Devine
- 51Lowry
- 54McCausland
- 58Lyall
- 69Ure
- Referee:
- Alan Muir
- Attendance:
- 18,172
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home32%
- Away68%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away20
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away7
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hibernian 1, Rangers 3.
Goal!
Goal! Hibernian 1, Rangers 3. Paul Hanlon (Hibernian) with an attempt from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joe Newell with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Robby McCrorie.
Post update
Attempt saved. Harry McKirdy (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Ewan Henderson.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott Arfield (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Robbie Ure.
Post update
Foul by Robbie Ure (Rangers).
Post update
Lewis Miller (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Arron Lyall replaces Ryan Jack.
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Robbie Ure replaces Fashion Sakala.
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Ross McCausland replaces Todd Cantwell.
Goal!
Goal! Hibernian 0, Rangers 3. Todd Cantwell (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
Post update
Attempt missed. William Fish (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lewis Miller with a cross.
Post update
Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Joe Newell (Hibernian).
Booking
Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Alex Lowry (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian).
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Lewis Miller replaces CJ Egan-Riley.
Player of the match
CantwellTodd Cantwell
Hibernian
Avg
- Squad number22Player nameMcKirdyAverage rating
5.00
- Squad number13Player nameHoppeAverage rating
4.52
- Squad number2Player nameMillerAverage rating
4.50
- Squad number4Player nameHanlonAverage rating
4.49
- Squad number15Player nameNisbetAverage rating
4.45
- Squad number8Player nameDoyle-HayesAverage rating
4.44
- Squad number23Player nameYouanAverage rating
4.36
- Squad number18Player nameHendersonAverage rating
4.32
- Squad number16Player nameStevensonAverage rating
4.30
- Squad number25Player nameFishAverage rating
4.27
- Squad number26Player nameCJ Egan-RileyAverage rating
4.14
- Squad number11Player nameNewellAverage rating
4.14
- Squad number14Player nameJeggoAverage rating
3.98
- Squad number1Player nameMarshallAverage rating
3.93
- Squad number12Player nameCaddenAverage rating
3.90
- Squad number32Player nameCampbellAverage rating
3.74
Rangers
Avg
- Squad number13Player nameCantwellAverage rating
7.85
- Squad number16Player nameSouttarAverage rating
7.73
- Squad number2Player nameTavernierAverage rating
7.61
- Squad number7Player nameHagiAverage rating
7.48
- Squad number8Player nameJackAverage rating
7.40
- Squad number43Player nameRaskinAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number28Player nameMcCrorieAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number3Player nameYilmazAverage rating
7.25
- Squad number38Player nameKingAverage rating
7.22
- Squad number4Player nameLundstramAverage rating
7.17
- Squad number30Player nameSakalaAverage rating
7.05
- Squad number37Player nameArfieldAverage rating
6.65
- Squad number51Player nameLowryAverage rating
6.35
- Squad number58Player nameLyallAverage rating
6.01
- Squad number69Player nameUreAverage rating
6.00
- Squad number54Player nameMcCauslandAverage rating
5.96