THE moment Mark Warburton has been trying so hard to avoid is now with us. It is time to talk about Hibernian.

The Rangers manager’s response to some rather mild goading from Easter Road while the wheels have started to fall off the cart at Ibrox has been to give the impression that, despite being based just 50 miles along the M8, they are about as familiar to him as the role of Bacillus subtilis in trying to establish the existence of life of Mars.

The truth, of course, is that Hibs have been closing down on him and his wobbling team in the same way a leopard with an empty stomach puts its mark on an impala with a gammy leg.

There was a time when Rangers had breathing space. An eight-point gap that they could have been extended to 11 when they travelled that relatively short distance to Easter Road and lost 2-1 at the start of last month.

Now, they are dealing with the heat and noise of Alan Stubbs’s side panting in anticipation over their shoulders ahead of recommencing hostilities in Govan in a week’s time.

It is time for answers and not the kind in which Warburton, most politely, pretends Leith’s finest have barely entered his thoughts.

Rangers have been running out of steam for months. Everyone can see it. Hibs are now level on points at the top of the table and they know fine well that they have everyone inside the Glasgow club rattled.

“I think Rangers have always been looking over their shoulder,” stated midfielder John McGinn. “They can kid you on and say they haven’t, but we have always been there and that won’t change. They can’t ignore us now.”

As it happens, though, Warburton will have some reason for encouragement when he watches footage of Hibs’ victory over Queen of the South on Saturday.

They did not play well. The frontline of Jason Cummings and Martin Boyle with James Keatings in behind does not work with things really only improving after Dominique Malonga and Henri Anier had been brought on to replace the front two.

Even then, they needed the most remarkable going-away present from referee Brian Colvin, taking charge of his final game, to secure the points three-and-a-half minutes into stoppage time.

Kyle Hutton had gone down at the edge of his own box after being struck in the face by the ball with Colvin stopping play at the other end of the park. Hutton went off and was not allowed back on. In the meantime, Colvin, rather than calling Liam Fontaine and Mark Millar together to contest a dropped ball, appeared to hand possession directly to Hibs, who, duly, stormed upfield and scored the winner through a Malonga header from a David Gray cross.

Hibs should not be judged on one game alone, of course. A run of 15 wins and two draws from 17 games in all competitions speaks for itself. Rather, the events of the weekend, in which Rangers miss a late penalty in losing at Falkirk and the Hibees get out of jail free, just adds to the feeling that everything is moving in the Edinburgh side’s favour ahead of next Monday’s mouthwatering match-up at Ibrox.

“We don’t fear anyone,” stated McGinn. “We know, if we play to our best, we can win the game, but Rangers will feel the same and it’s going to be an end-to-end match.

“We have the momentum and we just have to make sure we hold onto that and don’t give it away.

“There has been a lot of build-up already and now we, as players, can focus on it too.

“We couldn’t look too far ahead and I am sure we will now be working away this week to exploit their weaknesses and play to our strengths. It should be a great game.

“At the moment, we are going strong and the manager is drilling it into us that we need to keep that up. We are a confident bunch.

“Even if Rangers had got the result at Falkirk, it was a massive game on Saturday because we can’t afford to drop any points.

“It was a massive win and a big statement from us. We didn’t play well, but we have that quality right to the end. We showed it last week as well with a late goal at Falkirk. We have great character in the dressing room and long may it continue.”

Derek Lyle, challenged to a fight during chaotic scenes at time-up, explained Colvin’s decision as “mystifying”. He believes, however, that Hibernian will still come up short in the title race.

“Hibs are a really good team with some great players but I believe Rangers will pip them,” he said. “I just think Rangers have more all over the pitch.

“It may come down to what happens in January, who they sign, but, at this minute, I feel Rangers have got a wee bit more.”