THE Premiership title may have been won but there are still targets, both individually and collectively, for Rangers to achieve this season as Steven Gerrard sets new aims for his side to aspire to in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Victory over Hibernian was the first step towards those goals. The unbeaten league campaign is still on the agenda, while numbers in terms of points, clean sheets and wins remain in their sights now that the end of the season is coming into view.

A month on from their crowning as Premiership champions, this was the first game where there wasn’t quite as much at stake as usual for Rangers. It wasn’t exactly meaningless – no game ever is for Rangers – and Gerrard had warned that there were places against Celtic up for grabs as attentions now turn to the Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox.

Goals in either half from Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent won this one for the champions as Kevin Nisbet replied late on for Hibernian. It has been a campaign in which Rangers have been ruthless and relentless and this victory was added to the list in relative comfort.

Jack Ross may have brought Hibernian to Ibrox hoping to take another step towards securing third place in the Premiership, but they never looked like doing so. Of the four meetings between the sides this term, this was the most straightforward for Rangers.

There was a more familiar look to Gerrard’s starting line-up than there was against Cove last weekend as five players returned to the side. The ambition was, of course, still the same and it would be no surprise to see the same players tasked with overcoming Celtic.

There will be no place in the squad for Leon Balogun, however, after he sustained an injury in training on Saturday that could rule him out of action for a couple of weeks. The defender started the weekend by agreeing a new contract to keep him at Ibrox for another season but an Achilles problem will now deny him the chance to play in what has become the most significant game of the season against Celtic.

This one was merely a warm-up encounter for Rangers. It took them some time to get going and the lead they earned midway through the first half could have been lost by the end of it.

The opening 20 minutes were fairly uninspiring and a long-range effort from Kent that whistled by Ofir Marciano’s left hand post was all that Rangers could offer. It turned out to be the spark that they needed, however.

The ball was in the net seconds later. The offside flag may have denied Kemar Roofe following a neat move that saw Steven Davis slip in Alfredo Morelos and the Colombian pick out his forward partner, but it was a sign of intent at long last from Rangers.

Both Roofe and Morelos were involved in the opener. Marciano made a terrific reaction save to deny Roofe as he connected with a teasing Borna Barisic cross and Rangers would keep the move alive and keep the pressure on.

A driven cross from Morelos spun up into the air and it was Aribo who reacted the smartest. His acrobatic finish was perfectly placed away from Marciano and Rangers had a lead that had only looked like coming when they stepped it up.

Hibernian would eventually do the same. Their response hadn’t exactly been immediate but they would finish the half well and Allan McGregor was worried as Nisbet and then Martin Boyle rifled in well-struck efforts from distance that were just wide of target.

McGregor would protest to referee Don Robertson that he didn’t get a touch to the second one but a corner was awarded. From it, Paul Hanlon couldn’t find the target with a header as Hibernian trailed at the interval.

Had the visitors been able to get the second goal of the afternoon, it might have made for an interesting half. As it was, the game was all-but over when Kent found the net.

Rangers had once again not exactly been at their free-flowing best after the break but a moment of magic was produced when it was most required. With it, another win was secured.

Steven Davis knocked the ball wide to Kent on the right and his run into a shooting position was direct as Joe Newell and Alex Gogic were beaten with ease. So, too, was Marciano as Kent produced a lovely finish that gave the keeper no chance.

The response from Hibernian was better on this occasion. Boyle tested McGregor on the angle, Nisbet’s free-kick from distance was parried away and a Ryan Porteous goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

From a Paul McGinn cross, Nisbet rose well and directed a header across McGregor as he beat Connor Goldson to the ball. It gave Hibernian hope at least.

It wouldn’t lead to anything, though. As they have done so often this term, Rangers would see it out to achieve their ambition.

That is now the target between now and the end of the season as they look to finish with style in the Premiership.

This term has already had on silver lining for Gerrard and his players. Now Rangers must ensure there is a second one come May.