RANGERS won their first battle of the season with Hibernian on the park, but the one off it may be more difficult to emerge victorious from. The Championship title rivals are embroiled in a tug of war over midfielder Scott Allan: Hibernian have him and Rangers want him. While the outcome of that disagreement has yet to be resolved, there was no doubt about the result at Easter Road.

Mark Warburton marked his competitive debut as manager in some style, this 6-2 win in the capital as emphatic as it was deserved. If the early signs are anything to go by, there won’t be many goalless draws in Rangers’ matches this term. There were concerns for Warburton, but the positives outweigh the negatives by some way.

There was a stunning free-kick from James Tavernier, a double for Martyn Waghorn, one moment of magic from Andy Halliday and a brace for Kenny Miller as the furore over Allan was, from Rangers’ perspective at least, reduced to a sideshow on the day Warburton’s side booked their place in the Petrofac Training Cup second round.

As when these two met in the first round of this competition 12 months ago, the opening 90 minutes of the new campaign could be seen as something of a false start to the season. There are more important duels to be fought in the weeks and months to come.

After matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Ayr United and Burnley, Warburton referred to this fixture as “game four” in terms of his side’s preparations, with the League Cup tie against Peterhead next weekend the fifth as he builds towards the start of the Championship campaign at home to St Mirren on August 7.

It was Rangers who emerged victorious last term in this tie a year ago and they were perceived to have put down an early marker of their intentions.

History has, of course, shown the result in a different light. It is important, then, for fans of both clubs to put the outcome of yesterday’s match, and the respective performances, into context. When Hibs make the trip to Ibrox on league duty in four weeks’ time, the bigger picture will have a different look, but Rangers will rightly be buoyed after a six-goal showing.

After much debate and speculation about a player he wants to sign, it became all about the ones Warburton has acquired so far this summer once the action got under way. There were plenty of new faces on show, with Wes Foderingham, Danny Wilson, Rob Kiernan, Jason Holt, Tavernier, Halliday and Waghorn all retaining their places from the friendly defeat to Burnley at Ibrox in midweek. So too did Lee Wallace, handed the captain’s armband once again, Nicky Law, David Templeton and Barrie McKay.

The pre-match build-up had all centred on Allan but the midfielder started the afternoon watching on from the sidelines alongside the manager who is desperate to keep him at Easter Road. With the main protagonist in the wings, the stage was set for his team-mates to grab the headlines but a performance that started brightly ultimately delivered little for those in green.

Hibs took the lead after 14 minutes when Sam Stanton burst forward from the middle of the park and finished with aplomb from the edge of the area, but it never got much better for Stubbs’ side.

The sight of Allan emerging from the dugout to warm up brought applause from the home stands, before a chorus of “one Scott Allan” reverberated around the whole stadium. Until the moment they had a chance to serenade a potential new recruit, there were few reasons for the Rangers fans to get excited as Warburton’s side struggled to show the style the manager is so keen to develop.

It took a moment of magic from Tavernier, the right-back finding the top corner with an exquisite free-kick, to get Rangers going. They would double their advantage before the break, Waghorn following his former Wigan team-mate’s lead as he netted his first goal in light blue with a neat finish after good work from Jason Holt inside the area. Rangers never looked back.

Waghorn scored twice against Hibs in a pre-season fixture while still at Wigan earlier this summer and got himself another brace here as he made it 3-1 just after the interval. His strike on the angle and across goal was powerful and well struck, but home goalkeeper Mark Oxley should undoubtedly have done better.

It was time for Hibs to turn to Allan. He was once again greeted warmly from all corners of Easter Road, but it was the home support who soon celebrated as Stubbs’ side reduced the arrears on the hour mark, Jason Cummings sending Foderingham the wrong way from the spot after being fouled as he weaved his way into the area.

The goal gave Hibs hope and belief but both were soon diluted, Halliday’s sweet strike from distance a moment to savour for the midfielder who grew up within sight of Ibrox and returned to the club earlier this month.

It was left to one of the old guard to put the shine on the scoreline for Rangers, Miller finishing twice from close range in quick succession, converting crosses from Nicky Clark and then McKay.

Cries of “we want seven” from the Rangers fans went unanswered from Warburton’s side. Only time will tell if they get their next wish and see Allan at Ibrox before the end of the transfer window.

Hibernian: Oxley; Gray, Fontaine, Forster (Scott Allan 54), Stevenson; Hanlon, Martin, Fyvie; Stanton, Stevenson; Cummings, Malonga (Lewis Allan 24)

Subs not used: Reguero, Harris, Dunsmore, Crane, Sinclair

Booked: Fyvie, Allan

Rangers: Foderingham; Tavernier, Wilson, Kiernan, Wallace; Halliday, Law, Holt (Shiels 60); McKay, Waghorn (Clark 73), Templeton (Miller 60)

Subs not used: Kelly, McGregor, Aird, Thompson

Booked: McKay, Shiels

Referee: William Collum. Att: 11,225