Rangers manager Ally McCoist reassured fans the race back to the SPFL Premiership is a "marathon" after his side went down to a second Championship defeat to a promotion rival at Ibrox.

Hearts had already won at Rangers' home ground this season before Hibs inflicted a humiliating 3-1 defeat tonight, including three unanswered first-half goals.

Asked about the damage done by the two capitulations against Edinburgh opposition, McCoist said: "It is very disappointing and that has been mentioned. The league is a marathon, but we have lost at home to the teams which most people would have regarded as our biggest rivals for automatic promotion.

"It is concerning and it is certainly something we are going to have to look at."

Boos rang out at half-time and full-time as tonight's attendance of 31,619 made their feelings known to the beleaguered McCoist.

Nicky Law's goal 10 minutes into the second half failed to stir a revival from the home side and the manager said: "The level of goal we lost was as poor as I can recall us conceding.

"We started brightly for 20 minutes, but dear me. The goalkeeper kicks the ball up the park and we lose a goal. That is just not on.

"The second was poor and the third was a little bit of a Comedy of Errors. Coming in 3-0 down at half-time leaves you needing a minor miracle to get back in the game.

"The most disappointing aspect of the game was the goals we lost.

"The defending and the standard of goal was unacceptable. There is no doubt about that."

"You cannot lose self-belief and belief in the team. We have had recent conversations about the standard of defending and we had some decent performances, but we are back to early on in the season and that is unacceptable. We have to work on it and we will do."