A second half goal from Kyle Lafferty fired Rangers nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday after grinding out a narrow 1-0 win over a stubborn Hibernian side at Ibrox.

The home side struggled to break down Hibs, who had gone four matches unbeaten in the league, in the first-half with Steven Whittaker blazing a stoppage time penalty over the bar after Lafferty had been brought down by Graham Stack.

Junior Agogo twice missed chances to put Hibs in front before Rangers half-time substitute Jamie Ness saw his strike chopped off for off-side.

Rangers finally made the breakthrough in the 68th minute when Lafferty got on the end of Gregg Wylde's chipped pass to fire past Stack.

It was Rangers' ninth successive league win and piles the pressure on Celtic, who face Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, although the Hoops have played two games less.

Motherwell leapfrogged Celtic in second place with a 3-1 win at Dundee United.

"Hibs played well and we warned the lads before the game that they were more than a dangerous opponent," said Rangers manager Ally McCoist.

"But having said that I don't think anyone could argue that we didn't deserve to win the game. It took a good save at nothing each to keep us in it before we got the goal I think we deserved."

Hibs boss Colin Calderwood was satisfied with his side's performance.

"On reflection they had the better chances first-half and we had one real good chance second-half but we would be kidding ourselves on if overall we thought we deserved to win," he said.

At Ibrox, Rangers top-scorer Steven Naismith missed out through suspension while American international Alejandro Bedoya was handed his first start.

Early on, Paul Hanlon failed to test Allan McGregor, sending his header straight into the arms of the keeper from a Martin Scott free-kick wide on the left.

A clever pass from Steven Davis released Wylde into the box but Stack was equal to his first-time effort.

The winger then squandered a glorious chance to give Rangers the lead when Nikica Jelavic cushioned a long ball into his path but Wylde blazed his volley over the bar.

In first-half stoppage time Rangers were awarded a penalty when Lafferty was brought down by Stack after the striker rounded the keeper.

Whittaker stepped up to take the spot-kick but skied his effort over the bar to send the sides in level at the break.

Rangers survived a 59th minute scare when Garry O'Connor laid a chance on a plate for Junior Agogo but McGregor saved his first effort and the Ghanaian sent his second into the side netting after being forced out wide.

Substitute Ness thought he fired Rangers ahead on the hour mark when he stabbed home a low shot past Stack but Lafferty had already been flagged off-side.

The home side finally broke down Hibernian's stubborn defence in the 68th minute when Wylde's chipped pass into the box evaded everyone but Lafferty who knocked the ball past Stack from close range.

Stack then superbly saved from a fierce Davis strike late on as Hibs lost out by the narrowest of margins.

Elsewhere Motherwell came away with all three points from Tannadice as Dundee United suffered their fourth defeat this season.

Keith Lasley put the visitors ahead after 14 minutes with an error from goalkeeper Dusan Pernis allowing Michael Higdon to claim the vistors second just before the break.

Higdon scored a second from a penalty after 64 minutes after a foul by Garry Kenneth on Nicky Law, before Jon Daly got one back for United after 77 minutes.

The win moves Stuart McCall's side up to second, a point ahead of Celtic.