Rangers have moved to within five points of Celtic in the Premiership title after winning the first of their two games in hand over their Old Firm rivals. An impressive 3-0 victory against Hibernian was a reward for their efforts in Edinburgh as Ridvan Yilmaz, Todd Cantwell and Cyriel Dessers found the target. The offside flag denied Tom Lawrence the fourth of the night.

Rangers returned to action after the winter break with a win away to Dumbarton in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. But this was the fixture that had been circled on the calendar for some time as they sought to pick up where they left off in the Premiership. It was a case of a job well done.

A trip to face St Mirren on Saturday is next on the agenda for Clement. The Belgian must hope that this is the beginning of another sustained run for Rangers.

Joshua Barrie and Chris Jack break down the big talking points from Easter Road below...

Comfortable and commanding for Clement’s side

Big games are won by big moments. The ones that Yilmaz and Cantwell produced were worthy of turning and winning any encounter. The first half was not perfect from Rangers but Clement had to be pleased with the situation his side were in as they returned to the away dressing room. The opener from Yilmaz combined style and substance. Rangers were patient in their approach before John Lundstram opted to make the decisive pass. A dinked ball over the top of the Hibernian defence was delicately weighted and Yilmaz had the touch to control it. His finish was emphatic as he rifled the ball beyond David Marshall at the near post.

Rangers Review: PA

The second was just as impressive. This one was all about Cantwell. He had been on the periphery for much of the half but he chose his moment to make his presence felt. A thunderous strike from outside the box left Marshall with no chance. Rangers had gone from being comfortable to being in control. Phases of the second half were perhaps too open for Clement’s liking. Rangers didn’t have the composure to kill Hibernian off but never looked like squandering their advantage. When Dessers made it 3-0, the job was done and the game was won.

Chris Jack

Todd Cantwell makes his mark

As the first half neared an end, Todd Cantwell was sent sprawling by two Hibs players into the home dugout, with Nick Montgomery also taking a tumble. Philippe Clement was infuriated and apparently, so was Cantwell. The No.13 was starting to grow into the game that passed him by in the early stages but this flashpoint poked the bear and produced a moment of quality some will feel supporters needed reminding of. Cantwell’s season has been up and down. This five-minute spell was a reminder of why fans took to him so quickly, playing with a confidence and ownership which, perhaps, hasn’t been quite as constant this season to score a brilliant solo goal 20 yards out. Rangers don’t have attacking quality in reserve at the moment, they need Cantwell and co to provide moments like this one. The recent Old Firm game was case in point. This type of moment, the confidence to try things, frustrate opponents and own the centre stage, is what Cantwell must continue.

Joshua Barrie

Mixed fortunes for Rangers’ centre-forwards

This was the game that Silva has been building up to since his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers a couple of weeks ago. His outings against Kilmarnock and Dumbarton, as well as the January friendlies with Hertha Berlin and FC Copenhagen, were valuable but did not tell supporters much about what he could bring to the team in the second half of the season. This was far more indicative. The Portuguese should have at least hit the target when Matondo pulled the ball back into the six yard box. Claims for a penalty after a tangle with Jordan Obita were waved away. Outside of the area, Silva showed his willingness to drop into spaces to link the play. He is not the No.9 that many fans were perhaps hankering for this month but his touch and his vision were clear. Some of his runs were clever as his movement went unfulfilled. Fans still don’t know if he can finish and if he possesses the nous that will see him score the goals to keep Rangers in the Premiership title race.

With 18 minutes remaining, his night was over. Clement had talked up the contribution of Dessers before this fixture and the Nigerian will certainly have a part to play in the coming weeks and months. He had a part to play here first. His eleventh goal of the campaign seemed to find the net in slow motion. The ball trickled in at Marshall’s right hand post as Dessers secured the points within a minute of entering the pitch.

Chris Jack

Jack Butland’s big moments continue

This was a game that still felt in the balance despite Rangers’ two-goal advantage. Hibs were happy to throw numbers forward and the visitors lacked the necessary ruthlessness in transition to exploit that fact. They hit the side netting from close range through Rabbi Matondo, a three-vs-two moment when Fabio Silva overhit his pass and more. With around 10 minutes gone of the second 45 after escaping down the right, it seemed as though the home side would piece together a move. A cutback offered Maolida a free chance from 15 yards out on his debut and a goal seemed inevitable but Jack Butland, predictably, delivered another moment to keep the two-goal lead. “Especially at this club you might not have much to do but when the big moments come he seems to pull off saves and help the team,” Connor Goldson said of Butland speaking to the Rangers Review earlier this month. This was another entry in a season full of them.

Joshua Barrie

Rangers Review:

Left flank needs addressed after Sima blow

The news that Abdallah Sima had been ruled out for the ‘long term’ cast a shadow over Clement’s pre-match press conference as he previewed the trip to Easter Road. The full diagnosis in the build-up to kick-off was even more depressing for supporters who had been braced for the worst. Sima has been a hugely influential figure for Rangers but he will now watch on during a defining run.

"Abdallah had his operation and the surgeon was really happy with the way it went,” Clement said. "It was a good operation and everything went well. He will be out for between two and three months. He is positive and he is someone who is always working hard so we expect him to be back as fast as possible in a healthy way of course. We can count on him at the end of the season."

As one door has closed at Ibrox, another has opened. This is now the chance that Rabbi Matondo has been building up to during his own stint out of action. Regardless of whether or not Rangers go into the transfer market for a replacement, Matondo must stand up and be counted. The Welshman had the beating of Kanayochukwu Megwa. From the early stages, it became evident that Rangers had to utilise their left side. Matondo opted to pass rather than shoot when he burst in behind early on and a couple of other openings didn’t unfold as Rangers would have wished. Clement switched his wide men after the break as Ross McCausland moved over to the left. Within minutes of the restart, Matondo had fired into the side netting as a good chance was spurned. Around the hour mark, the wingers swapped flanks once again and Matondo tested Marshall from distance minutes later.

Chris Jack