RANGERS maintained their three point lead at the top of the Championship despite drawing 2-2 with Morton at Ibrox this afternoon.

Mark Warburton’s side needed a late leveller from Martyn Waghorn to salvage a point after a James Tavernier own goal and Stefan McCluskey strike had cancelled out a second minute opener from Kenny Miller.

At Easter Road, Hibernian snatched a dramatic draw against Falkirk to ensure they are still within three points of the Light Blues in the title race.

Rangers face the Bairns next weekend before they host Alan Stubbs’ side on December 28 as they look to take a step towards the Premiership.

Ibrox fell silent before the match to remember former Rangers midfielder Arnold Peralta, who was shot dead in Honduras last week.

When the action got underway, it took Warburton’s side less than two minutes to take the lead, Miller heading home a Tavernier free-kick to give the Gers the perfect start.

The remainder of the first half would prove frustrating for the Ibrox crowd, though, as Rangers failed to find a way through a resolute Ton defence.

Tavernier tried his luck on a couple of occasions while Miller saw a low shot saved by Grant Adam after neat work from Barrie McKay and Lee Wallace down the left flank.

Rob Kiernan almost netted his first goal for Rangers as he headed a McKay corner narrowly over and Ibrox was stunned after 31 minutes when Morton pulled level.

McCluskey did well to find Denny Johnstone and his cross may not have found a yellow jersey, but the ball hit Tavernier and beat Wes Foderingham as Jim Duffy’s side pulled themselves level.

Rangers almost restored their advantage within seconds when Miller fed Jason Holt and the midfielder spun on the edge of the box but his low shot was saved by Adam.

With Rangers’ final chance of the first half, Holt fired over after a McKay corner broke to him at the edge of the area.

The second period would follow a similar pattern as Rangers pressed and probed but again found Morton too well organised to break down. Frustrations started to grow around Ibrox.

Warburton turned to his bench in search of a solution, Dean Shiels and Nicky Clark taking over from Gedion Zelalem and Miller but the crucial second goal continued to elude the Light Blues, Waghorn denied at the near post by Adam and Clark heading over.

Morton continued to impress and certainly had the belief that they could take something from the game and continue their run of good form.

Johnstone fired straight at Foderingham from 20 yards as Duffy’s side looked to catch Rangers on the break.

With just eight minutes remaining, the visitors got their goal as McCluskey beat Kiernan to the ball and then curled a sweet strike beyond Foderingham to send the travelling Ton support wild.

Within seconds, they were silenced, though. Sub Nathan Oduwa fed Wallace and the Gers captain picked out Waghorn, the striker finishing well to spark Ibrox into life and set up a frantic finale.

Rangers piled forward in search of a winner but it never came for Warburton’s side, Holt firing over with the last kick of the game after an Andy Halliday cutback as the Light Blues dropped league points at Ibrox for the first time this term.

RANGERS: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Ball, Wallace; Halliday, Zelalem (Shiels 60), Holt, McKay (Oduwa 72), Miller (Clark 60), Waghorn

Goals: Miller 2, Waghorn 83

Booked: Ball

MORTON: Adam; Pepper, Kilday, O’Ware, Russell; Forbes, Miller (87), McKee, Barr (Stevenson 90); McCluskey (Samuel 88), Johnstone

Goals: Tavernier OG 31, McCluskey 82

Booked: Pepper, Barr