MARK Warburton made a winning start to his career as Rangers manager as his side netted no fewer than six goals in his first competitive fixture against Hibs in the first round of the Petrofac Training Cup.

Doubles from Martyn Waghorn and Kenny Miller and strikes from James Tavernier and Andy Halliday ensured Rangers ran out comfortable winners in the game at Easter Road.

The Ibrox club blew away opponents who are expected to be their main challengers for the Championship in the 2015/16 campaign – giving the huge travelling support in the capital cause to believe this will be a successful season.

Warburton fielded the same starting line-up as he had in the friendly against Burnley at Ibrox on Tuesday evening. That team selection meant there were competitive debuts for no fewer than six Rangers players.

Wes Foderingham in goals, Tavernier at right back, centre half Rob Kiernan, Halliday and Jason Holt in central midfield and Waghorn up front all made their bows in a meaningful match for the Glasgow club.

Elsewhere, Danny Wilson, who returned to Ibrox for his second spell in the summer, was preferred to Darren McGregor, who was named Rangers Player of the Year last season, in the heart of the defence.

The only survivors of the old guard were Lee Wallace, who captained the side, Nicky Law, Barrie McKay and David Templeton and the latter two hardly featured under former managers Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall or Stuart McCall.

There was no place in the Hibs side for Scott Allan, the central midfielder who Rangers made two unsuccessful bids for this week, who found himself on the substitutes’ bench amid mounting speculation he has handed in a transfer request.

The 23-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is a boyhood Rangers supporter and is believed to be keen on the move. Immediately after the game got underway the Rangers fans who filled the South Stand goaded their Hibs counterparts by chanting: “Scott Allan, he’s one or our own!”

But Alan Stubbs’s side started the game far better. Jason Cummings had a free header at goal in just the fourth minute. The visitors were fortunate Wallace was well-positioned and cleared the ball to safety.

Dominique Malonga was given time and space to get a shot away in the opposition box in the ninth minute. So it was no great surprise after those opening exchanges when the home team took the lead five minutes later.

The Rangers defence failed to close down Sam Stanton as he advanced towards their goal and he tried his luck with an awkward dipping shot from 20 yards out. Foderingham was unable to keep it out.

Hibs protected their lead well until five minutes from half-time when Hibs defender Paul Hanlon fouled Holt on the edge of his area. Tavernier stepped up and curled an exquisite free-kick into the top left corner of goal.

Waghorn gave Rangers the lead a minute before half-time after some intelligent play from Holt. The striker bundled the ball into the opposition net from just inside the six yard box to open his account for the Ibrox club.

He added his second just two minutes after the second half got underway. He latched onto a punt upfield from Wallace and volleyed a shot underneath HIbs keeper Mark Oxley, who should have done much better, from an acute angle.

Stubbs threw on Allan almost immediately for Jordan Foster and the replacement made a definite difference to the play of his side. Hibs pulled one back from the penalty spot on the hour mark to make the scoreline 3-2.

Wilson brought down Cummings who then stepped up and sent Foderingham the wrong way with a well-taken spot kick into the side nettting. The goal gave the home supporters hope their side could stage a comeback.

But their optimism was short-lived. Warburton removed Holt and Templeton and put on Dean Shiels and Kenny Miller respectively. His side forged two goals ahead once again shortly afterwards those changes.

McKay cut the ball back to Halliday who whipped a long-range shot over the head of Oxley and into the net off the underside of the crossbar. It was a stunning strike and one the lifelong supporter clearly savoured.

Nick Clark replaced Waghorn and teed up his side’s fifth goal in the 75th minute. He squared the ball into the rapidly advancing Miller from wide on the right and the striker got off the mark for the season from just a yard out.

He grabbed his second of the season seven minutes later with an attempt which was virtually a carbon copy of his first. McKay was the provider who allowed the experienced centre forward to drill the ball into the roof of the net.