Hibernian fired out a cup final warning to Rangers as they boosted their hopes of catching Falkirk with a 3-2 Easter Road win over the Ladbrokes Championship winners.
Alan Stubbs’ side made the most of their opportunity as Gers let their standards slip after dumping rivals Celtic out of the William Hill Scottish Cup on Sunday.
That triumph set up a May 21 final with the Edinburgh men but it was the Leith hosts who put down a marker for the Hampden clash.
Jason Cummings’ eighth goal against Gers in the last two seasons gave Hibs an early lead before a gaffe by Wes Foderingham saw the Ibrox men fall two down for the first time on league duty this season.
There was no guard of honour from the home side for Mark Warburton’s champions but another mistake from Easter Road goalkeeper Mark Oxley – restored to Alan Stubbs’ line-up despite Conrad Logan’s Hampden heroics in their semi-final win over Dundee United on Saturday – did gift the visitors a goal back as Jason Holt prodded home.
However, a third from Norwegian full-back Niklas Gunnarsson ensured Barrie McKay’s second wonder goal in the space of three days counted for nothing.
The victory now moves Stubbs’ team to within three points of the second-placed Bairns with a game in hand.
Attendance: 12,231.
Hibernian: Oxley, Gunnarsson, McGregor, Hanlon, Gray, Fyvie, Bartley, McGinn, Stevenson, Stokes (Dagnall 89), Cummings (Keatings 77). Subs not used: Henderson, Boyle, Logan, Thomson.
Rangers: Foderingham, Tavernier, Kiernan, Danny Wilson, Wallace, Ball (Zelalem 61), O’Halloran (King 61), Halliday, Holt, McKay, Miller (Shiels 77).Subs not used: Law, Clark, McCrorie, Burt.