Rangers leapfrogged Hibernian into third place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League thanks to a 2-0 win at Ibrox.

Goals from Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson allowed them to return to winning ways after defeat in their last three outings.

The victory also provided a timely boost ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Villarreal in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The last time the two clubs met, two weeks ago in the Tennent's Scottish Cup, angry Rangers fans demonstrated outside Ibrox after their last hope of silverware this season vanished.

It was also the third consecutive defeat to Hibs this term and Rangers knew they could not afford a repeat performance today.

But, perhaps most importantly, it was a chance to haul themselves back into contention in the SPL and beat Hearts and Hibs to the runners-up spot, the only realistic target left for Rangers.

The Ibrox side dominated from the outset and they made an early claim for a penalty, insisting Chris Hogg had handled in the area, but the pleas were ignored by referee Iain Brines.

Thomas Buffel then had a decent opportunity to give Rangers the lead when he met a Steven Smith cross only to nod just wide.

Buffel turned provider when he sent a dangerous ball into the box but it was missed by everyone, including Boyd in front of goal.

Hibs' first real chance of the game came when David Murphy picked out an unmarked Stephen Glass, only for him to fire weakly into the hands of Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus.

Rangers continued to pile on the pressure when Chris Burke skipped past his marker only to send a thunderous effort across the face of goal and wide of the post.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos then saw his shot flash past the upright when the ball broke to him from a Burke corner.

The Greece defender was called into action at the other end of the park when Ivan Sproule - who grabbed a hat-trick at Ibrox earlier in the season - burst clear on goal, drawing Waterreus from his line, and it was left to Kyrgiakos to make the last-gasp clearance.

Rangers were forced into more desperate defending seconds later when Burke nodded a Gary Caldwell shot off the line.

But it was the Ibrox side who took the lead five minutes before the break.

Burke embarked upon another impressive run down the right flank before cutting back into the path of Boyd and all that was required was the rifle home from 15 yards.

Rangers were desperately unlucky not to double their lead a few minutes after the restart when a low drive from Dado Prso clipped the outside of the post.

Hibs made the first change of the day when the ineffective Paul Dalglish was replaced by Steven Fletcher.

And it was also the Edinburgh club who were handed the first booking when Caldwell was cautioned for a foul on Buffel.

Derek Riordan - the subject of a failed January bid by Rangers - was then introduced to the action in place of Kevin Thomson.

But it was still Rangers who looked most likely to find the back of the net again when a superb shot from Steven Smith fizzed wide, before Boyd drew a decent save from goalkeeper Simon Brown.

Rangers all but killed the game off when they grabbed their second goal of the day after 74 minutes.

Ferguson collected a Brahim Hemdani header on the edge of the box, before unleashing a superb left-footed shot through a sea of green jerseys and into the back of the net.

The Ibrox crowd were on their feet again a couple of minutes later, this time to welcome the return of Gavin Rae, who was making his first appearance after being sidelined by a series of knee injuries for the last 22 months.

It was the icing on the cake for Rangers as they held on for a much-needed win.

Teams

Rangers Waterreus, Hutton, Rodriguez, Kyrgiakos, Smith, Burke,Hemdani (Gavin Rae 77), Ferguson, Buffel, Prso, Kris Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Klos, Andrews, Novo, Murray, Lovenkrands,

Namouchi.

Goals: Kris Boyd 40, Ferguson 74.

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Hogg, Murphy,Sproule, Stewart, Glass, Thomson (Riordan 61),O'Connor (Konte 83), Dalglish (Fletcher 58).

Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Smith, Shields, Konde.

Booked: Caldwell.

Att: 49,720

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).