Two Charlie Adam free-kicks earned Rangers victory at Easter Road in a game that will haunt Hibernian keeper Simon Brown for years to come.

Brown watched Adam curl an early opener inside his near post from 40 yards and let the midifelder's weak 25-yard shot slip through his legs on the hour mark.

Hibernian had decents spells of pressure after a poor start but Rangers defended stoutly to move seven points ahead of Aberdeen in the race for second place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Just as importantly for the Rangers fans, the win rules out the prospect of Celtic clinching the title with an Old Firm victory next Sunday.

Walter Smith had considered giving Stefan Klos some match practice with Allan McGregor suspended for Thursday's UEFA Cup clash against Osasuna but he stuck with his first-choice keeper.

Defender Ugo Ehiogu returned from injury while Adam won a recall as Barry Ferguson played just off lone striker Kris Boyd.

Hibs handed a first start to Hungay striker Thomas Sowunmi while Lewis Stevenson also came into the team.

Former Hibs skipper Kevin Thomson was the focus of attention on his first return since his £2million transfer to Rangers but Adam silenced the boo boys in the fourth minute.

Adam curled the ball straight in at the near post from 40 yards out on the right touchline as the Hibs keeper - who only won a recall three games ago after a six-month absence from the first team - awaited a cross.

Rangers soon threatened with corners from either side and both Adam and Alan Hutton headed over from decent positions. With Rangers pressing hard and a strong wind to contend with, it took Hibs half an hour to produce a decent passing move.

Moments later Ehiogu and Rob Jones tangled in the box as the Hibs defender headed a long free-kick at McGregor.

Another Adam free-kick caused problems and the ball broke for Ferguson, whose hooked shot was caught by Brown.

The game had burst into life and David Murphy waltzed forward before being felled amid a series of desperate tackles on the edge of the box. The left-back took the free-kick himself but curled it just wide.

McGregor then had to backtrack to push a left-wing cross from Steven Fletcher over the bar and Sowunmi glanced a header a yard over from Murphy's centre.

Adam tried to repeat his goal from a similar position but Brown comfortably held and Murphy's attempt to emulate Adam at the other end was easily saved by McGregor.

Benjelloun replaced Sowunmi at the break and the Moroccan was presented with Hibernian's best opening but volleyed just over from 15 yards after Whittaker's cross.

Rangers survived a spell of pressure and Adam scored his second courtesy of an even bigger blunder from Brown.

His curling 25-yard free-kick lacked power but the keeper fumbled the ball and let it slip through his legs and over the line.

Hibs tried to hit back immediately but McGregor brilliantly tipped over Fletcher's left-foot strike as the youngster cut in from the right.

Murphy flashed a long-range effort wide but Hibernian's moves were breaking down in the final third.

The home side's poor finishing was summed up when sub Merouane Zemmama's weak free-kick hit the wall and Fletcher shot well over from the rebound.

Hibs were denied a penalty when McGregor rushed off his line and brought down Scott Brown after Benjelloun had played him through. But referee Charlie Richmond decided the keeper had got the ball.

They refused to give up though and Chris Burke cleared Ivan Sproule's shot off the line after a corner in the final minute.

Thomson gave an assured display on his return and the Gers fans taunted their rivals with the claim Scott Brown will follow in the summer.

Teams

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Hogg, Jones, Murphy,Sproule (Zemmama 70), Beuzelin, Scott Brown, Stevenson,Sowunmi (Benjelloun 46), Fletcher.

Subs Not Used: McNeil, Martis, Stewart, Lynch, McCann.

Booked: Jones, Stevenson, Zemmama.

Rangers McGregor, Hutton, Ehiogu, Weir, Murray, Burke,Hemdani, Ferguson, Thomson, Adam, Boyd (Prso 71).

Subs Not Used: Klos, Papac, Novo, Rae, Lowing, McMillan.

Booked: Boyd, Thomson, Ferguson.

Goals: Adam 4, 60.

Att: 16,265

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).