Rangers lost further ground in the Scottish Premiership title race after a blunt attacking display ended in a 0-0 draw away to Hibernian, leaving them six points behind leaders Hearts.
With Hearts having beaten Dundee United on Saturday, Rangers arrived in Leith knowing only a win would cut the gap at the summit.
Instead, Hibs produced a resilient response to last week’s heavy defeat at Falkirk, earning a point that ultimately benefits their city rivals.
David Gray’s side may feel they missed a golden opportunity to claim all three points, having created the clearer chances and survived a late VAR scare when substitute Mikey Moore’s finish was ruled out for offside.
The opening stages were cagey, with both teams threatening from set-pieces but lacking composure in the final third.
The first real opening fell to Hibs when Elie Youan’s curling effort was tipped away by Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland, sparking a sustained spell of pressure from the hosts.
Martin Boyle then broke clean through only to be denied in a one-on-one by Butland, while Youan later headed wide from close range as Hibs pushed for a breakthrough.
After the interval, Youan again went close, seeing one effort blocked at the last moment before looping a header over the bar.
Rangers, by contrast, struggled to assert themselves, managing just two shots on target in an uninspired attacking display.
A frantic finale followed, with desperate defending at both ends, but neither side could find a decisive moment.
The draw may prove costly for Danny Rohl’s Rangers as the title race intensifies heading toward the final months of the season.
With Kieron Bowie sold for a club-record fee on Friday and Jamie McGrath and Josh Mulligan sidelined through injury, this appeared a daunting test for a depleted Hibs side.
Many expected Rangers to seize the opportunity and claim a seventh straight league win.
Instead, Rohl’s men lacked fluency and invention in open play.
The introduction of Mikey Moore added some unpredictability and nearly brought a late winner, but it was not enough to mask Rangers’ struggles in the final third.
January signing Andreas Skov Olsen, billed as a statement addition, failed to make a telling impact, while forwards Youssef Chermiti and Djeidi Gassama also toiled without reward.
Rangers’ failure to convert an expected goals tally approaching two stood in contrast to Hibs’ profligacy, with the hosts managing 16 touches inside the Rangers box without scoring.
For Gray, however, there was plenty to take encouragement from.
After a difficult couple of weeks, his side showed resilience and intensity, while new signing Kai Andrews made a promising debut from the bench as Hibs steadied themselves with a hard-earned point.
Hibs head coach David Gray: "We deserved all three points. We had the best chances. We could be a bit more clinical. A little bit of frustration we haven't won the game, but that's a good place to be off the back of the last two results.
"It was much more like us. It's very much about making sure we keep working hard, sticking together. It was a young group towards the end, but once we get a few back I'm confident we can end the season strongly."
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "Tough game. Both teams tried and invested a lot. In the end we are disappointed we couldn't win, but honestly I take the draw today.
"We had some good phases in the game where we couldn't score. In such a game you need this magic moment. We were close with Mikey Moore. In the end we did not deserve the three points."
