THE real games have begun.

Glasgow has basked in the glory of Commonwealth competition in recent days but football took centre stage once again last night.

Rangers have had to wait a few extra days to get their campaign off and running due to the action unfolding at venues across the city, but finally got down to business at Ibrox, marking the occasion with a low-key victory and opening evening scare.

It is likely to be a season to remember as the Gers, Hearts and Hibernian battle it out for the Championship title, but it was so nearly a start to forget for Ally McCoist's side against the green half of the Capital.

The Light Blues booked their place in the second round of the Petrofac Training Cup, and set up a meeting with Barry Ferguson's Clyde.

But they made hard work of it, Nicky Law's extra-time strike proving the difference as the hosts claimed a 2-1 win.

Things don't get any easier for Rangers, with the visit of Hearts on Sunday likely to be an even sterner test of their title credentials as they bid to claim a third-straight promotion this term.

The markings from the Rugby Sevens tournament were still visible on the pristine park, as was the Glasgow 2014 logo, but with the football posts restored, Ibrox was back in a more familiar mode as the new campaign got underway.

The crowd rose to acclaim 800m silver-medalist Lynsey Sharp before kick-off, as she was given a guard of honour on to the pitch just days after her memorable run to glory at Hampden.

And the life-long Rangers fan soon had another reason to celebrate as McCoist's side took an early lead.

The Light Blues had started positively, returning strike hero Kris Boyd twice trying his luck in the opening stages.

But it was midfielder Lewis Macleod who would break the deadlock 14 minutes in, smashing the ball low beyond Mark Oxley to get Rangers up and running this season.

It was no more than they deserved at that stage after they came out on the front foot - the new 3-5-2 formation McCoist opted to utilise paying dividends early on as the Gers were able to get forward in numbers.

The same system proved somewhat of a disaster when it was first put into use during Rangers' tour of North America last month. On the first showing on home soil, it still seems a work in progress and was ditched long before the end of the evening.

Summer signings Darren McGregor and Marius Zaliukas partnered Lee McCulloch at the back and Lee Wallace and Richard Foster had the chance to get forward down the flanks. But with the full-back threat often nullified and the central three less than cohesive, Hibernian were determined to exploit Rangers' flaws.

The theory behind McCoist's plan seemed sound but - a bright start apart - it didn't have the desired affect, with Law and Ian Black in the middle of the park particularly poor as the momentum quickly evaporated and the goal threat dried up.

Sorting out his defence and midfield should be McCoist's top priority but, at the top of the park, he should have few problems.

The Light Blue legions got their first chance to see the reformed Boyd and Kenny Miller partnership in action this season.

Time may not have been kind to their legs but there is unlikely to be a more prolific attack pairing in the Championship this season as they look to roll back the years and fire McCoist's side back to Scotland's top flight.

Yet it was to prove a frustrating return to Ibrox last night.

After his early brace of chances, Boyd saw a sweet strike from the edge of the area ruled out for a foul while Miller stung Oxley's palms with a volley from the edge of the area as Rangers looked to find a crucial second goal.

As the clock ticked on and the scoreboard didn't tick over, McCoist's side became incre-asingly one-dimensional, long balls up to Boyd giving the striker little chance and having little effect as Hibs grew into the game.

Most of their attacking forays came to a premature end before Cammy Bell was seriously tested but Alan Stubbs' side wasted no time in giving Ibrox a fright after the break.

They could, and then should, have scored either side of a fluffed Rangers breakaway as Danny Handling came close from distance before youngster Sam Stanton could only find Bell's hands after he evaded a poorly executed attempt at an offside trap.

The next time Handling got a sight of goal, he made no mistake. Rangers failed to clear their lines and the forward showed good composure to beat Bell and deservedly bring Hibernian level.

When Farid El Alagui ghosted unmarked through the heart of the Light Blues defence and fired over, Ibrox roared in anger as McCoist was given another warning sign. His blueprint was not going to plan.

Rangers' blushes were spared when El Alagui headed over from a corner but even the early departure of Handling, sent off for a lunge on sub David Templeton, couldn't give them the edge.

The third goal was the decisive one, Law finding the bottom corner with a curling effort on the 100-minute mark.

It gave McCoist's men the win but was not enough to appease the manager's critics.

The games have begun but they still aren't much fun for Rangers fans.