Rangers kept their slim Champions League hopes alive with a win over Hibernian at Easter Road.

A Kris Boyd double secured the points but Hibs disproved the theory that they would lie down to their visitors with a spirited display, which saw Derek Riordan find the back of the net, albeit with the help of Brahim Hemdani.

Rangers now need Aberdeen to take at least a point from Hearts on Wednesday to ensure the race for second place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League goes down to the final game of the season at Ibrox.

A win was crucial for Rangers to have any hope of catching Hearts but Hibs found themselves in the position of knowing they would kill off their own European hopes if Rangers lost at Easter Road.

As the SPL's fourth-placed team, a UEFA Cup spot was up for grabs if they could hold onto that lofty position - but only if Rangers joined Celtic in the Champions League and Hearts won the Tennent's Scottish Cup.

Hibs found themselves in a similar position on the final day of last season when they sat back knowing a 1-0 defeat to Rangers suited both teams - Rangers for a dramatic title win and Hibs for a European berth.

But, for a game both teams needed Rangers to win, it was anything but a convincing victory for the Ibrox club tonight.

Former Hibee Ian Murray was the target of abuse from the home supporters early in the game and he did himself no favours when he was easily robbed of possession by Ivan Sproule.

Sproule stabbed the ball into the path of Dean Shiels but his low 20-yard drive flashed past the post.

Marvin Andrews had netted a double against Kilmarnock on Saturday but there was a sharp intake of breath at the Rangers end when an attempted clearance almost ended up in his own net.

It was turning into a dreadful spectacle - a game Hibs had to lose but one Rangers were struggling to win.

Just when it looked as though Rangers were beginning to toil badly in their search for the opener, they took the lead after 35 minutes.

Dado Prso swept the ball across the park to the feet of Thomas Buffel, who raced into the box, drawing Zbigniew Malkowski from his goal, before slicing into the path of Boyd.

All that was required from the striker was to rifle into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Peter Lovenkrands - fit again after injury - was introduced to the action for the second half in place of Buffel.

But it was Hibs who almost found the back of the net seconds after the restart when Gavin Rae was called upon to make a last gasp block to deny a Shiels effort.

Then it was Rangers' turn to pile on the pressure. Boyd's flick on was collected by Lovenkrands but his long-range effort was touched past the post by a fully-stretched Malkowski.

The Rangers forward was then the victim of late challenge from Gary Caldwell, earning the Hibs player the first yellow card of the game.

Hibs then swapped Steven Fletcher for Paul Dalglish.

If both teams were supposed to be settling for the 1-0 scoreline, Sproule clearly had not read the script. He could have restored parity but lashed the ball into the side netting instead.

With 71 minutes gone Hibs were back on level terms.

A free-kick 10 yards outside the box was positioned perfectly for Riordan and he sent the shot curling into the back of the net with the help of Hemdani.

But, just when Rangers thought their Champions League dream was over, Boyd grabbed his second goal of the night two minutes later.

Prso was the provider once again, slicing open the Hibs defence before delivering the ball to the feet of his fellow striker to slot home from close range.

Lovenkrands could have added to the tally with a thunderous effort, which was only bettered by a one-handed save from Malkowski.

In the end, Rangers did their job by scraping a win. Now the anxious wait begins to see if Aberdeen can do the same.

Teams

Hibernian Malkowski, Whittaker, Caldwell, Shields, Murphy,Shiels (Konte 71), Sproule, Glass, Riordan (Lynch 79), Konde,Fletcher (Dalglish 52).

Subs Not Used: Brown, Murray, McCluskey, Gary Smith.

Booked: Caldwell, Riordan.

Goals: Hemdani 72 og.

Rangers Waterreus, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Smith, Burke,Gavin Rae, Buffel (Lovenkrands 45), Hemdani,Murray (Alex Rae 83), Prso, Kris Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Klos, Novo, Malcolm, Ashikodi, Lennon.

Booked: Prso.

Goals: Kris Boyd 36, 74.

Att: 10,000

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).