Barry Ferguson returned to Ibrox in style as he helped Rangers to a 3-0 victory over Hibernian to mark his homecoming after his return from Blackburn.

The result was enough to take Rangers to the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League, at least until Celtic play at Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow.

Dado Prso supplied two of the goals either side of the interval before Thomas Buffel grabbed the third in the 61st minute.

Alex Rae was the man to make way for Ferguson in midfield, with Alan Hutton handed a recall at right-back following an injury to Maurice Ross and Ronald Waterreus kept his place in goal ahead of Allan McGregor.

With Rae on the bench the captain's armband was up for grabs but it was Fernando Ricksen who wore it not Ferguson.

Novo should have scored in the second minute after the Spaniard had been allowed to start a move by Murphy's misplaced header.

Gregory Vignal sent in a low cross from the left that Prso pushed into the striker's path but somehow he fired wide.

Defender Marvin Andrews was able to bundle the ball over the line from a Michael Ball corner but referee Craig Thomson had spotted an infringement in a crowded six-yard box.

Hibs goalkeeper Simon Brown was first to the ball seconds later when Rangers continued to apply the pressure.

Hibs were getting forward whenever possible and Stephen Glass fired a low drive against defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

But Hibernian were back under pressure again and needed Gary Smith to nick the ball away from Prso after Novo had set him up again.

Smith then had to head the ball over his own crossbar from the resulting corner.

But then it was Rangers who found themselves in trouble when a first-time through-ball from Sam Morrow sent Garry O'Connor racing away and it needed the back-tracking Hutton to make a vital block at the expense of a corner when the shot came in.

Novo somehow managed to fire wide from close range after Buffel had set him up moments after goalkeeper Brown had slid out to divert the ball away from the Spaniard.

Stephen Glass had to stretch out a leg to stop Novo setting up Prso at the expense of a corner.

And, before long, Brown was required to make two saves in the space of a few seconds, first to beat away a deflected Novo effort, and then a powerful drive from Buffel.

Prso then sent a header tamely at the goalkeeper before Hutton charged forward to fire a low long-range effort which Brown scrambled round a post.

From the resulting corner though, Rangers took a 35th-minute lead through Prso, his 15th of the season.

It was a simple one, too, as he nodded home Ball's corner unchallenged.

Rangers continued to pile forward and the home fans were incensed when referee Thomson refused to award a penalty when Novo went down under Steven Whittaker's challenge.

Prso found the net from the next attack, having been set up by Buffel, but it was ruled offside to the fury of the Rangers fans, and Ricksen was also booked for complaining.

A penalty did come their way, however, when Novo was hacked down in a crowded box by Murphy.

But Brown was in fine form and guessed right, diving to his left to stop the Spaniard's spot-kick.

Kyrgiakos headed a Buffel cross straight at Brown before Prso made it 2-0 in the 50th minute.

Buffel provided the cross from the right, but Novo steered into his strike partner's path and the Croat had little difficulty slotting past the goalkeeper.

Hibs were denied a route back into the game when O'Connor's shot flew across goal and wide.

In the 56th minute, Hibernian made a double change with Amadou Konde and Antonio Murray on for Riordan and Morrow .

Waterreus made his first save of the game to deny O'Connor after Buffel had lost out to Smith on the left flank and Antonio Murray fired just over from the corner move.

In the 61st minute, Buffel wrapped up the points with a fine solo effort and his first goal at Ibrox.

Novo and Prso combined to send him away down the inside left channel and, once he had got the better of Whittaker, he beat Brown with a well-struck effort.

Hibs were still intent in getting on the score-sheet themselves, however, and it needed Ball's intervention to block from O'Connor.

Brown made another save to deny Prso, deflecting a rising drive past his right-hand post.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish then decided to give Prso and Novo the rest of the afternoon off sending Steven Thompson and Shota Arveladze on in the 72nd minute.

Hibs made a final change in the 79th minute when Steven Fletcher came on for Murphy.

The newcomer almost headed home a consolation effort but Waterreus was able to save.

Ferguson was taken off in the 83rd minute, to be replaced by Rae, and was given a huge ovation by the Ibrox fans.

Teams:

Rangers: Waterreus, Hutton, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Ball, Buffel, Ricksen, Ferguson (Alex Rae 83), Vignal, Novo (Thompson 72), Prso (Arveladze 71).

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Malcolm, Burke, Namouchi.

Booked: Ricksen.

Goals: Prso 35, 50, Buffel 61.

Hibernian: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Murphy (Fletcher 80), Shiels, Ian Murray, Glass, Riordan (Antonio Murray 55), O'Connor, Morrow (Konte 56).

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Beuzelin, Orman, McCluskey.

Att: 50,143

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).