THE king is dead; long live the king. That was the sentiment amongst Rangers supporters at Hampden as the post-Steven Gerrard era got under way in earnest at the national stadium.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who watched on from the stands as he prepares to get his feet under the desk at Ibrox, will have to wait a little longer to make his managerial debut but that didn’t stop fans saluting their new boss.

More supporters were clad in Dutch orange than in blue and white as they eagerly anticipated a new beginning at the club. Before that could officially begin, though, there was the small matter of a place in the first cup final of the season up for grabs.

Hampden rose as one on the cusp of kick-off for a minute’s applause in honour of Bertie Auld, the Lisbon Lion and former Hibernian manager who sadly passed away last week aged 83. It was impeccably observed by all.

Barely a minute had elapsed before the local contingent hailed Van Bronckhorst. Smoke bombs and flares were ignited behind Allan McGregor’s goal as the stand was engulfed in an orange cloud, while a banner was unveiled that read ‘The future is bright, the future is…’

The Hibs fans may well have been outnumbered but they did not let that dishearten them as they responded vociferously with chants of their own. And with Jack Ross’ men on a streak of four consecutive defeats, they would need all the help they can get.

On eight minutes, they got their reward and broke into rapturous celebration as Martin Boyle handed the Hibees the lead by tucking away a Joe Newell corner from close range. They may have only filled a quarter of the famous old ground but you wouldn’t know it as the Rangers fans fell silent.

That goal sent belief coursing through the veins of the Hibs players as they went about doubling their advantage. Rangers, by contrast, looked sluggish in every sense. Joe Aribo started brightly and looked up for the challenge but it appeared the rest of the players didn’t get the memo.

When Boyle grabbed his second of the afternoon midway through the first half, the Rangers section again fell into deathly silence as the Hibs supporters revelled in their position of strength. Tucked away at the back of the Main Stand, Van Bronckhorst watched on.

A Scott Arfield shot that curled just wide of the far post gave the Premiership champions a glimpse of optimism, a slither of hope that the contest was not beyond them.

Any faint flicker of belief was all but extinguished with 38 minutes on the clock when Steven Davis bundled over Boyle in the Rangers area. Referee Kevin Clancy pointed to the spot, and up stepped the Australia internationalist to slam the ball home and seal a remarkable first-half hat-trick. Again, the Hibs fans rose in triumphant acclaim. Again, the Rangers section fell silent.

In the space of a little more than 60 seconds, the atmosphere in the stands had changed dramatically from despondence to delirium. Hibs should have been cruising going into the break but instead, barely a minute later, a sloppy pass from Porteous offered the men from Ibrox a lifeline. The ball fell invitingly to Arfield, who made no mistake from eight yards out, and Rangers supporters started to believe again.

Another goal was required if the comeback was to truly be on the cards and although Rangers came out with a renewed sense of purpose after the restart, Hibs dealt admirably with the inevitable bombardment.

If Hibernian were effervescent and lively in the opening 45 minutes, they would have to show a sense of steely resolve in the second. They did just that, though, as they restricted their opponents to the occasional half-chance and rarely forayed forward in any significant numbers.

With every repelled Rangers attack and clearance hacked away, the Hibs players on the park and their supporters in the stands grew in confidence. In the other end, the anxiety amongst Rangers fans grew as their team’s fate became grimly apparent.

Ianis Hagi, Fashion Sakala and Scott Wright were introduced from the bench in an attempt to inject some attacking impetus into Rangers’ display but despite the change in personnel, the outcome remained the same. When the full-time whistle rang out, the men from Ibrox could have few complaints. The had been second best and got the result their performance deserved.

Van Bronckhorst might well have inherited a title-winning team – and one that currently tops the Premiership standings – but that is not to say they are not flawed. After this breathless encounter at Hampden, the Dutchman will be under no illusions about the task that awaits in Govan.

Rangers fans might have proclaimed that the future will be bright under Van Bronckhorst’s watch. But here in the present, there is much work to be done.