Match ends, Rangers 2, Hibernian 1.
Hibernian's Ryan Porteous was sent off for a "wild" and "leg-breaking" tackle, says Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, as his side took advantage to return to the Scottish Premiership summit.
Kevin Nisbet headed Hibs in front after eight minutes but Porteous' red for a challenge on Joe Aribo left the visitors a man down for an hour.
Kemar Roofe nodded Rangers level, and Alfredo Morelos headed in the winner with 12 minutes left.
"It's a wild tackle," Gerrard said.
"The kid only has to play the ball. I don't know why there is any reason that he wants to go in with that intent.
"It's the second time that he has done it against us because he did it against Lassana Coulibaly not so long ago.
"So the kid is obviously not learning and he has let his manager and his team-mates down today. I know one or two things about bad tackles because I have made a few myself, so I am not in a glass house here."
Victory means Gerrard's side go back above Hearts by one point, while Hibs stay third after their first league defeat, but are now four points behind the champions.
Ross' side started brightly and will be left to ponder what might have been had Porteous remained on the pitch.
Chris Cadden's deep cross from the right was headed past keeper Allan McGregor from 12 yards by Nisbet, who escaped the clutches of John Lundstram to find space to guide the ball back across goal.
But their positive opening was derailed when Porteous flew into a tackle on Aribo and referee Nick Walsh flashed a red card.
"I think Ryan gives him a decision to make," Hibs boss Ross said afterwards.
"I don't necessarily agree with the decision but I can understand why it's given. He [Porteous] has got my absolute support.
"He has made strides in the last year and a half but he's going to have to learn from this one again."
Creative midfielder Scott Allan was sacrificed for defender Darren McGregor after the sending off, and Rangers began to dictate.
But despite plenty of possession, Gerrard's side struggled slightly to fashion clear openings before Roofe replaced Glen Kamara and grabbed the equaliser.
The forward moved beyond the Hibs defence to guide home Nathan Patterson's looping cross from deep five minutes after coming off the bench.
Ianis Hagi forced Hibs goalkeeper Matt Macey into a fine save before Rangers grabbed the winner from another header.
This time Borna Barisic had time to swing the ball in from the left, and Morelos was free to head the ball in off the post and ultimately clinch three points for Rangers.
Gerrard and his players celebrated fiercely at the full-time whistle, indicating how much they valued this comeback victory against a strong Hibs side.
What they said
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard: "Really pleased with the result. We didn't panic, we played with maturity and class, the subs helped us a lot. But it was a really strong performance from the boys."
Hibernian head coach Jack Ross "I'm angry at losing the game because of the manner of the goals we concede. Then I'm angry at myself because I've had to be angry at the players."
"We're a good team at the moment, but we want to be a very good team and very good teams still win the game from that position."
What's next?
Rangers face closest rivals Hearts after the international break at Ibrox on Saturday 16 October (15:00 BST) in a top of the table clash, while Hibs host Dundee United at the same time.
Player of the match
RoofeKemar Roofe
Rangers
Avg
- Squad number25Player nameRoofeAverage rating
7.66
- Squad number10Player nameDavisAverage rating
6.13
- Squad number16Player namePattersonAverage rating
6.05
- Squad number20Player nameMorelosAverage rating
6.05
- Squad number1Player nameMcGregorAverage rating
5.93
- Squad number7Player nameHagiAverage rating
5.87
- Squad number22Player nameBacunaAverage rating
5.84
- Squad number31Player nameBarisicAverage rating
5.72
- Squad number26Player nameBalogunAverage rating
5.72
- Squad number6Player nameGoldsonAverage rating
5.66
- Squad number17Player nameAriboAverage rating
5.66
- Squad number18Player nameKamaraAverage rating
5.65
- Squad number23Player nameWrightAverage rating
5.60
- Squad number4Player nameLundstramAverage rating
4.18
Hibernian
Avg
- Squad number15Player nameNisbetAverage rating
6.40
- Squad number1Player nameMaceyAverage rating
6.35
- Squad number27Player nameCaddenAverage rating
6.12
- Squad number3Player nameDoigAverage rating
6.05
- Squad number6Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
6.02
- Squad number10Player nameBoyleAverage rating
6.02
- Squad number4Player nameHanlonAverage rating
6.00
- Squad number11Player nameNewellAverage rating
5.99
- Squad number22Player nameDoyle-HayesAverage rating
5.86
- Squad number23Player nameAllanAverage rating
5.74
- Squad number24Player nameMcGregorAverage rating
5.71
- Squad number18Player nameMurphyAverage rating
5.09
- Squad number5Player namePorteousAverage rating
4.80
- Squad number13Player nameGogicAverage rating
4.73
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McGregor
- 16Patterson
- 6Goldson
- 26Balogun
- 31BarisicBooked at 90mins
- 4Lundstram
- 18KamaraSubstituted forRoofeat 55'minutes
- 7HagiBooked at 73mins
- 17AriboBooked at 26minsSubstituted forBacunaat 79'minutes
- 23WrightSubstituted forDavisat 80'minutes
- 20Morelos
Substitutes
- 2Tavernier
- 3Bassey
- 10Davis
- 22Bacuna
- 25Roofe
- 30Sakala
- 33McLaughlin
Hibernian
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Macey
- 6McGinnBooked at 37mins
- 5PorteousBooked at 30mins
- 4Hanlon
- 27CaddenSubstituted forMurphyat 82'minutes
- 22Doyle-HayesSubstituted forGogicat 75'minutes
- 23AllanBooked at 33minsSubstituted forMcGregorat 33'minutes
- 11Newell
- 3Doig
- 10Boyle
- 15NisbetBooked at 45mins
Substitutes
- 8Wright
- 13Gogic
- 16Stevenson
- 18Murphy
- 21Dabrowski
- 24McGregor
- 25Scott
- Referee:
- Nick Walsh
- Attendance:
- 49,125
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home74%
- Away26%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away1
- Corners
- Home12
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rangers 2, Hibernian 1.
Post update
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Josh Doig (Hibernian).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ianis Hagi.
Booking
Borna Barisic (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Borna Barisic (Rangers).
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Martin Boyle (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Hibernian. Matt Macey tries a through ball, but Kevin Nisbet is caught offside.
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Foul by Kemar Roofe (Rangers).
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Matt Macey (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Leon Balogun (Rangers) with an attempt from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ianis Hagi with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Matt Macey.
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Attempt saved. Ianis Hagi (Rangers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Juninho Bacuna.
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Attempt blocked. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kemar Roofe.
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Attempt missed. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ianis Hagi.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Jamie Murphy replaces Chris Cadden.
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Foul by Ianis Hagi (Rangers).
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Paul Hanlon (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Steven Davis replaces Scott Wright.