Rangers ground out a tense 1–0 victory over Hibernian at Ibrox on a cold December evening, securing three vital Premiership points in a fixture that always felt precarious right until the final whistle.
In the context of a daunting run of fixtures to come, this was less about fluency and more about survival.
Danny Röhl’s side were far from convincing, but a brilliant first-half header from Emmanuel Fernandez proved decisive as Rangers moved up to third in the table and kept pace in an increasingly unpredictable title race.
Röhl made several notable changes following Thursday’s European disappointment.
Dujon Sterling made his first start since recovering from the Achilles injury sustained last season, while Nico Raskin and James Tavernier were left on the bench alongside the returning Kieran Dowell.
With Bojan Miovski injured, Youssef Chermiti led the line once again.
David Gray's Hibernian began the contest with intent and physicality, unsettling Rangers early with direct play and set pieces.
A long throw inside the opening minute set the tone, while Rangers back three of Sterling, Fernandez and Nasser Djiga looked uneasy under pressure.
Connor Barron, deployed deeper than usual, often opted for safety rather than progression, drawing frustration from the stands as Rangers struggled to move through the thirds.
Defensive lapses almost proved costly. Fernandez endured a shaky opening spell, gifting possession on multiple occasions, while Élie Youan wasted a glorious chance on 19 minutes when he should have punished Rangers lax marking.
Gradually, Rangers began to settle. Mikey Moore provided energy and invention between the lines, and Findlay Curtis delivery from wide areas caused intermittent problems.
The breakthrough arrived on 35 minutes, albeit from a scrappy moment.
Following a second phase from a set piece, Fernandez rose to head home and redeem his earlier errors, sparking a brief spell of momentum before the interval.
Hibs remained a threat after the break, repeatedly finding joy in transition. Rangers inability to kill the game kept nerves frayed, with Jack Butland required to remain alert as Youan continued to test the hosts.
Moore looked increasingly dangerous in the second half, drawing fouls and forcing bookings, while Diomande and Curtis showed flashes without delivering the decisive final pass.
Röhl turned to his bench just before the hour mark, introducing Tavernier and handing Clinton Nsiala his first appearance of the season as Rangers reshaped.
The changes brought greater control but little comfort.
Rangers spurned several opportunities to break decisively, with poor decision-making undermining promising situations. Djeidi Gassama, introduced late on, twice went close - once seeing a goal ruled out for offside after a VAR check, then missing a golden chance in stoppage time that should have sealed the game while Chermiti tested Sallinger with a powerful effort.
Hibs threw bodies forward in the closing minutes, even sending their goalkeeper up for a late corner, but Rangers held firm.
Fernandez, fittingly, produced a crucial clearance inside the box as tension peaked.
When the whistle finally arrived, there was relief more than celebration.
This was not a performance to convince, but it was one to value.
Barron’s industry stood out, Moore was Rangers’ brightest attacking outlet, and the defensive resolve - however unconvincing - held when it mattered.
With a trip to Tynecastle looming, Rangers will know significant improvement is required.
But on a night where composure was scarce and margins were thin, they found a way to win - and sometimes, that’s all that matters.