Nacho Novo rescued a point for Rangers against Hibernian in controversial circumstances as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race took another dramatic turn.

The Ibrox side were furious an earlier effort from the Spaniard was not allowed to stand after Derek Riordan had given the home side the lead.

The 1-1 draw saw Rangers squander the opportunity to move clear of Celtic at the summit, with goal difference all that separates the Old Firm rivals heading into the final two games of the SPL season.

Rangers were dealt a blow ahead of this game with the news Kenny Miller would not make the trip to Easter Road after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury, paving the way for Andrius Velicka to return to the starting line-up.

Hibs, meanwhile, were bolstered by being able to welcome back Rob Jones, Chris Hogg and Sol Bamba, who all missed the Edinburgh derby win over Hearts through suspension.

Rangers had an early opportunity to put Hibs under pressure when Kris Boyd was fouled by Ross Chisholm, earning the Ibrox side a free-kick.

Steven Davis - scorer of the winner against Celtic on Saturday - stepped up for the set-piece but drove narrowly wide of target from 30 yards.

Rangers had another decent chance when Riordan lost possession to Pedro Mendes, who teed up the shot for Boyd but the striker was denied by a timely block from Jones.

Mendes was not too far away himself when he met a Steven Whittaker lay-off before screwing wide of the upright.

The midfielder then picked out Boyd from a corner - needlessly conceded by David van Zanten - but the usually-prolific forward volleyed over.

Instead, it was Hibs who took a surprise lead four minutes before the break when Steven Fletcher played in Riordan for the shot and he lofted over Neil Alexander from just outside the box.

Rangers were clearly lacking pace up front and Kyle Lafferty and Novo were both introduced for the second half at the expense of Steven Smith and Velicka.

The pair had an immediate impact on the game, with Novo squaring into the path of Boyd for a header Yves Ma-Kalambay managed to claim at full stretch in the Hibs goal.

Lafferty then did well to race past Van Zanten before setting up Novo for the shot but the striker somehow managed to blast over when it looked easier to find the target.

He was left holding his head in his hands again moments later, this time poking wide of the post following excellent play from Whittaker, whose weaving run down the left took him past Van Zanten and Bamba.

At the other end, Fletcher went to ground in the box after finding himself sandwiched between Madjid Bougherra and David Weir but referee Eddie Smith ignored the pleas for a penalty.

Rangers thought they had pulled a goal back with just over 20 minutes remaining. Boyd's initial shot was blocked by the keeper before Novo claimed he bundled over the line.

But despite protests to the referee and his assistant - which earned yellow cards for Mendes and Lafferty - the goal was not given.

Riordan then squandered the opportunity to claim his second of the night. He pounced when Bougherra lost possession but mis-kicked horribly and Alexander was able to gather.

Rangers did manage to haul themselves back into the game with 11 minutes to go when a Bougherra cross was fumbled by Ma-Kalambay.

Davis tried to prod home but it was Novo who eventually managed to force the ball over the line.

Teams:

Hibernian Ma-Kalambay, van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Murray,Chisholm, Bamba (Thicot 90), Rankin, Stevenson,Fletcher (O'Brien 86), Riordan.

Subs Not Used: McNeil, Keenan, Hanlon, McCormack, Johansson.

Booked: Bamba, Fletcher.

Goals: Riordan 41.

Rangers Alexander, Dailly, Bougherra, Weir, Whittaker, Davis,Mendes, Edu, Steven Smith (Novo 46), Boyd,Velicka (Lafferty 46).

Subs Not Used: McGregor, McCulloch, Naismith, Fleck, Wilson.

Booked: Bougherra, Mendes, Lafferty.

Goals: Novo 80.

Att: 13,765

Ref: E Smith (Scotland).