The defeat took the shine off an impressive week for Rangers, which saw them beat Celtic and then book their place in the Champions League group stages.

The Light Blues had chances to win the game but could not find a way past Hibs goalkeeper Zbigniew Malkowski, leaving McLeish to question why he is not celebrating a three-goal win.

He said: “We didn’t play brilliantly, but we played well in the first half and I was left thinking ‘Why didn’t we win 3-0?’

“Hibs dug in, kept their shape and stayed with men behind the ball.

“They didn’t look a threat at all until we really went for it in the last 15 minutes.

“It was a smash-and-grab, there’s no doubt about that. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to work that out.

“On paper, we were favourites to win this game and we are a bit embarrassed by the result.”

Rangers defeated Anorthosis Famagusta on Wednesday to book meetings with Inter Milan, Porto and Artmedia Bratislava in Group H of the Champions League.

But McLeish refused to use their midweek exertions against the Cypriot team as an excuse for the defeat.

And he also defended his decision to play Dado Prso out wide to accommodate Steven Thompson, who made his first start of the season.

McLeish added: “I don’t think we had a hangover. The result does make it look like that though.

“We didn’t just have half-chances. They were good opportunities and should have been dispatched. On another day, we would have.

“We played Dado out wide because Steven needed a game. It wasn’t a gamble because Prso played there many times for Monaco and has told me in the past his best position was out left.

“But the bottom line is, if you create chances and don’t take them, you don’t win games.”

Hibs forward O’Connor scowled at manager Tony Mowbray as he left the field at Ibrox.

But the contribution of Northern Irishman, Sproule, allowed the Easter Road boss to have the last laugh.

Mowbray said: “Big Garry asked why I was taking him off and I said ‘You haven’t had a shot, son.’ He asked me how many shots was he (Sproule) going to have?

“In the dressing room after the game, I told him: ‘At least three.’

“Ivan is still learning the game, he came from Institute, which isn’t the best level of football in Northern Ireland, but he has pace that will hurt people.”

Derek Riordan has been given time off to weigh up a potential move to Cardiff City and Mowbray expects to hear his decision on Monday.

But Mowbray is convinced he has players capable of stepping into the boots of the 22-year-old if Riordan moves.

He added: “I don’t know if Derek is going to go. I’ve given him time off until Monday and, if he is back in training on Monday, then we will get on with it.

“But Ivan is someone who will score goals, as is Sam Morrow, Amadou Konte and Steven Fletcher. We have loads of people who will score goals.”

But Sproule admits his Rangers-supporting friends will not be entirely impressed by his performance at Ibrox.

He said: “All my mates are Rangers fans and there were about 20 of them in the stand today, so I don’t know what they will make of that.

“I also had 41 messages on the phone. They all said ‘Well done’, but there were a few words crossed out as well.”

“My chances of being bought a celebratory pint tonight are slim.”