A stunning second half goal from Anthony Stokes was enough to earn Hibernian a well deserved share of the spoils this afternoon at Ibrox. The Irishman's strike cancelled out an early effort from Kris Boyd as Hibernian fought back to earn a draw with an attacking performance in what was as fine a game of football as is likely to be seen in Scotland this season.

Hibernian manager John Hughes kept faith with the same starting eleven for the third successive game for this visit to Ibrox. A victory would put the Leith side top of the table - but to do so they would have to overcome a Rangers side still hurting from their humiliating midweek European defeat.

It was the Easter Road side that got the action underway and within 30 seconds they had won the first corner kick of the game, giving early notice of their intentions. Although the resulting cross from Zemmama was cleared it was worked to Riordan on the far side of the penalty area, and his curling right effort beat McGregor but finished wide of the post.

Rangers too started sharply and Boyd did fantastically well to hold of Hogg and spin away from the Hibernian captain to create a shooting opportunity, but the normally clinical striker was wasteful with his effort and blasted wide. Both sides were committed to attacking and next up was a Wotherspoon cross that picked out Murray arriving late into the penalty area - his header was deflected wide by Weir for another Hibernian corner kick.

Chances were coming thick and fast, at the other end Lafferty's powerful shot was deflected wide by Wotherspoon. The opening exchanges had been encouraging from Hibernian but they fell behind on 7 minutes when Whittaker's deep cross found Lafferty unmarked at the back post - his cut-back caught defence and goalkeeper on the back foot and was turned into the net by Boyd.

Hibernian tried to respond quickly, after good hold up play from Stokes Miller fired wide of goal from 25 yards. But the visitors could have fallen further behind had referee Richmond not given goalkeeper Stack the benefit of the doubt. A long high ball was played in on top of the Hibs goalkeeper and he appeared to collide with his own player before spilling the ball to Kenny Miller - but before the Rangers man could do any damage the official blew for a foul.

A stunning run from Zemmama on 21 minutes almost brought an equalising goal for the visitors, the midfielder evaded four challenges before finding his near post shot pushed wide by McGregor. Before the set piece was taken, referee Richmond had to speak to Rangers' Naismith after the midfielder had attempted, and failed, to cynically take down Zemmama on his route towards goal. From the resulting corner kick McGregor punched clear but only to Zemmama on the edge of the box, and his low drive struck the base of the post before being turned into the net by Stokes on the rebound. The strikers celebrations were cut shot however as he was adjudged to have been offside.

In what was the most open and attacking game between the two teams at Ibrox in recent years, chances were coming thick and fast at both ends. Next to try their luck was Rangers and when McCulloch's cross was knocked back across goal by Boyd for Miller, the former Hibernian striker looked set to score - but his header finished wide of Stack's far post. On 30 minutes Hibernian were awarded a free kick some 30 yards from goal but Zemmama's effort was poor and failed to trouble McGregor. Soon after Smith picked up the game's first yellow card for a terrible late challenge on Benjelloun, fortunately the Hibernian striker was not injured and he was soon testing McGregor with an excellent shot on the turn that the goalkeeper saved low to his near post.

Despite holding the lead there were clearly frustrations creeping into Rangers play and from their supporters. Hibernian's performance so far had been excellent, they did not deserve to be behind and the home supporters were well aware of this. Rangers were forced into a change on 42 minutes when Fleck replaced McCulloch. A fantastic turn from Boyd left both Hogg and Bamba in his wake and with only Stack to beat the smart money would have been on the striker doubling his own and his team's tally - only for Stack to make himself big and pull off a great save. Seconds later Lafferty was put clean through on goal but opted to shoot early and that allowed Stack to save comfortably.

If Stack was producing great saves at one end of the park they were equalled if not bettered by McGregor as the first half came to a close. First Benjelloun slipped in Stokes and his curling right foot effort looked net bound before McGregor pushed it away from the top corner with his fingertips. Soon after the goalkeeper again kept his side in the lead when he got down well to push away a fine shot from Wotherspoon that looked to be creeping in at the far post.

There was a sigh of relief as around Ibrox when referee Richmond brought the first half to an end. Despite being behind it had been a brave performance from Hibernian who more than matched their Champions League opponents, and were unlucky not to be at least level. There was much for John Hughes to be pleased with and the game was certainly far from lost.

Half Time: Rangers 1 Hibernian 0

The teams returned unchanged as Rangers got the second half underway. Once again Hibernian came at Rangers in waves and they forced the first corner kick of the second half within the first few minutes but failed to test McGregor.

It was not all one way however and Weir shot wide from 12 yards before Stack had to be at his best to push away a powerful low drive from Boyd on the greasy Ibrox pitch. Then a free kick from Smith was played deep into the Hibernian penalty area and headed over by Miller after the striker had drifted away from his marker.

Former Hibernian striker Miller was again involved soon after and this time it took a great save from Stack to prevent him scoring the crucial second goal. There was no doubt that Rangers were enjoying their best period of the game and they were putting the Hibernian defence under a tremendous amount of pressure. In an attempt to change that John Hughes made some changes with Stevenson replacing Wotherspoon on 57 minutes. That meant a tactical reshuffle with Stevenson going to left back, Murray and Bamba in the centre and captain Hogg out to right back.

Still Rangers poured forward and a long range shot from Papac almost caught everyone out, everyone except goalkeeper Stack that is, the Hibernian man throwing himself to his right to and using every inch of his huge frame he pushed the ball away to safety. Seconds later Boyd was left with only Stack to beat after wrong footing Bamba but he blasted over from close range when most expect him to score. After surviving the Rangers onslaught Hibernian again fought back. On the counter attack a superb flowing move that involved Riordan, Miller, Benjelloun and Zemmama ended with the latter's lob being pushed over the top by McGregor for a Hibernian corner kick.

From the corner the ball was cleared back to Riordan and McGregor had to once again be at his international best as he produced a stunning stop to keep out an effort that looked set to find the top corner of his net. An equalising goal was only delayed a matter of seconds however - the ball was played to Stokes in the area and he did the rest, brushing off a challenge from Whittaker before turning beautifully and lifting the ball over McGregor and into the net.

Not long after hauling his side level the afternoon could have taken a sour note for Stokes when he reacted badly to goalkeeper McGregor's late challenge. Referee Richmond angered the home support by showing leniency towards the Hibernian striker and producing only a yellow card that could easily have been red. Stokes was heavily involved in everything at that moment and after he turned Smith inside-out it took a strong fist from McGregor to prevent him from scoring a second goal for the visitors. Both teams made changes with Miller being replaced by Boyd and Galbraith coming on for Benjelloun.

Rangers substitute Novo was quickly involved and he was fouled on the edge of the Hibernian penalty area to win his side a free kick in a very useful position, yet it was wasted by Boyd who blasted his shot against the defensive wall. On 78 minutes a free kick from Fleck was headed back across his own goal and wide of the far post by Bamba, the defender then protesting to referee Richmond that he had been fouled. From the corner Stacks punched clear but only to Naismith on the edge of the box and his shot fizzed just wide of the far post.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes Nish replaced Riordan as John Hughes recognised the striker was tiring and falling out of the game. Nish was involved quickly but it was not to his manager's liking as he picked up a silly yellow card after his first challenge - arriving late on Whittaker.

Nish was joined in the referee's book by Naismith after the Rangers man reacted badly to not getting a decision from the referee. With 5 minutes remaining Hibernian had the chance to pick up all three points when Stokes gathered the ball wide left and cut inside Whittaker before side stepping past Weir, he then cut the ball back to Nish who could only fire wide with McGregor stranded.

Referee Richmond proved he would not be swayed by the protests of the home supporters when he gave a decision against Boyd after the Rangers striker went down inside the penalty area. The official stood up to the protests and yellow carded Boyd for an obvious attempt to win a penalty kick. As the game entered 3 minutes of time added on Stokes had the chance to score but delayed his shot too long and allowed Smith to tackle. As Rangers then broke forward Stevenson took down Whittaker and that led to a yellow card for the Hibernian substitute and it was a decision that he accepted.

Deep into injury time Novo slipped the ball beyond Stack and into the Hibernian net - but found his celebrations cut shot by the match officials as he was well offside when he accepted Boyd's pass.

In the end Hibernian earned a deserved share of the points that no one inside Ibrox could dispute. Both teams enjoyed periods of dominance with the each goalkeeper producing a fantastic performance. On another afternoon Hibernian could have claimed all three points but John Hughes will still be delighted by the brave performance of his men.

Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, McCulloch, Davis, Boyd, Naismith, Whittaker, Miller, Smith, Lafferty. Subs: Alexander, Novo, Rothen, Beasley, Fleck, Loy, Wilson.

Hibernian: Stack, Wotherspoon, Hogg, Bamba, Murray, McBride, Riordan, Zemmama, Miller, Stokes, Benjelloun. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Stevenson, Cregg, Nish, Rankin, Galbraith, Byrne.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.

Attendance: 46,892

Report: Richard Payne