After possession turned over just outside the home penalty area on 59 minutes, Allan McGregor began to wave his hands in a frenzy at John Lundstram and Connor Goldson.

Chasing a goal, the most experienced player on the pitch knew every second spent pondering would see each gap in the visiting defence become all the more difficult to play through. 

Moments on from McGregor’s encouragement, substitute Kemar Roofe was spinning away in celebration to ‘The Roof Is On Fire’, giving his manager and supporters the release everyone needed. It all stemmed from McGregor demanding that increase in intensity.

12 minutes from full-time with Rangers captain James Tavernier stripped and ready to enter play, Borna Barisic produced the delivery he is known for onto the head of Alfredo Morelos. Both goals brought scenes of jubilation, the full-time whistle saw an outpouring of passion from Steven Gerrard towards each Ibrox stand.

A ‘they found a way to win’ mantra has been a comfort blanket draped over every unconvincing performance so far this season. Yet that quality in itself is becoming a new weapon to this team – one which has been missing in moments in previous terms.

The plan was of course to win in a more conventional fashion with an intentional start. The hosts lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Ianis Hagi playing as more of an out and out No.10 than is usually customary. The move was made with aggressive motives but Hibs themselves were not in Glasgow to only enact the role of the defence.

READ MORE: Detailed Rangers player ratings from Ibrox as Alfredo Morelos lays down a title marker

As the rest of the starting XI ran up the tunnel following their pre-match warm-up, Barisic turned back onto the pitch to perform one more swivel, turn and sprint. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but it looked as though he knew he was in line to be tested early on. The Croatian would be beaten too easily just eight minutes into the game as Chris Cadden worked room to cross for Kevin Nisbet to head in the opener.

In the manager’s words that made the game “complicated”. Hibs are dangerous on the break and boast two international forwards at the head of the pitch. Therefore, the home side was required to balance chasing a goal, appeasing the support and attending to their opponent's potential threat in space.

Clearly, Jack Ross had worked hard on how his team would limit Rangers in possession. Even after the opener, their defence sat high while the forward line continually made it difficult to progress the ball past the first line of pressure.

Scott Allan joined Martin Boyle and Kevin Nisbet in a narrow three to block central options, while the ball sided wing-back blocked off the hosts’ full-back. It was a system that gambled Rangers would not move the ball quickly enough to exploit this overload - and too often they did not.

Too often players turned back in when they needed to play out while the pace of Ryan Kent to question Ross’ bold high line was notably absent.

Only the ball into Morelos and press-resistant qualities Glen Kamara possesses seemed to offer avenues through.

One of the occasions in which possession was moved forwards quickly would lead to the dismissal of Ryan Porteous for a lunge on Joe Aribo.

"It doesn't come much worse than that," was Gerrard's opinion of the incident.

READ MORE: Rangers boss Steven Gerrard slams 'leg-breaking' Ryan Porteous tackle that 'let his manager down'

Playing against 10 men should of course theoretically be an easier task than against 11. However, similarly to the “complicated” game state, it wasn't straightforward. The team did retain balance well to limit their opponents and commit to breaking down a defence simultaneously. 

Like against Livingston last month, Gerrard was on the money with his substitutions. Roofe’s introduction for Kamara gave the defence one more marker to consider and his movement off the shoulder of Darren McGregor on the hour to turn home Patterson’s cross was clinical.

20 minutes on, the pattern would repeat itself. This time the left delivered in the shape of Barisic, redeeming his role in the opener, and Morelos finished.

While the rounded, deep-lying forward that Morelos has become works well for the team this was a welcome throwback to the hustling youngster who arrived in Govan just desperate to score goals - faking forwards to fool Paul Hanlon before sneaking in behind to score.

The stadium wasn’t quite as full for the post-match rendition of ‘I’m Feeling It’ in comparison to the sign-off before the last international break. But the palpable relief was similar.

“We’re gonna need each other this season, and we need to lift each other,” Gerrard offered in explanation of his fist-pumping exploits. As if it wasn’t celebrated by the support in equal ferocity to either goal.

There is an admission from all that this is not Rangers at their best. Yet despite that, they remain just a point worse off than at this stage last season. In continually trying circumstances, answers are continually found. A determination to win is obvious even when complicated scenarios arise.

Perhaps instead of nostalgically dwelling on what's missing, this different side of Rangers should be enjoyed and celebrated as it was yesterday - because it hasn’t always been there.