Hibs long unbeaten run came to an end this afternoon at Ibrox when they lost 4-2 to Rangers in a hard fought and sometimes ill-tempered 90 minutes.
Jason Cummings (pictured) gave Hibs the lead but two goals from Jason Holt and one from Nicky Clark appeared to secure the points for the Glasgow side. Rangers were reduced to 10 men before a late consolation goal from Dominique Malonga gave the travelling support some hope but Martin Waghorn wrapped things up in time added on.
Head Coach Alan Stubbs made two changes to the starting XI that beat Queen of the South last weekend with Paul Hanlon replacing Liam Fontaine in the centre of the defence and Dylan McGeouch returning after a groin strain to replace Martin Boyle in midfield.
Fontaine and Boyle both made the bench alongside Marvin Bartley who returned to the squad after suffering a back injury and last week’s goal scorer Malonga.
Rangers dominated early possession however it was Hibs who almost took the lead in the 4th minute when a Liam Henderson free kick was met by Cummings but the youngster’s header flew inches past the post.
In the 19th minute James Tavrnier’s long range effort was deflected and Mark Oxley did well to save however the ball fell into the path of Barry McKay who shot flew just wide of the post.
Danny Wilson then did well to intercept a Lewis Stevenson cross and Waghorn went close from outside the area as play raged from end to end.
Hibs eventually took the lead in the 22nd minute after Liam Henderson’s inch perfect pass found David Gray free on the right wing. Gray’s cross was deflected back into the path of Henderson and his strike hit a defender before landing at the feet of Cummings who feigned to shoot before dinking the ball over Mark Foderingham into the net.
David Gray suffered a bad head knock in the 29th minute but bravely carried on although he did not appear to be his normal self.
Hibs held the lead for 11 minutes before Rangers equalised. Fraser Fyvie broke clear from the defence but his pass was intercepted by Tavernier who found Waghorn on the edge of the area. The Englishman slid the ball into the path of former Hearts’ midfielder Holt who side footed the ball past Oxley from 10 yards.
Rangers added a second just before the break in controversial circumstances. John McGinn drove forward but was brought down on the edge of the box by Lee Wallace. Referee Bobby Madden waved play on and the ball was cleared to McKay who found Holt unmarked in the box. The midfielder shimmied before getting his shot off. Oxley had the ball covered however it struck Hanlon and deflected into the net.
Fontaine replaced Gray at half time with Darren McGregor moving to right back.
Henderson was booked for a late challenge on Wallace before Kenny Miller went close after good play from McKay.
Rangers replaced Nicky Law and Miller with Nicky Clark and former Hibs’ midfielder Dean Shiels. Malonga also replaced James Keatings.
The Rangers’ changes paid immediate dividends when Fontaine lost possession at the edge of the area and Shiels’ cross was deftly flicked into the net by Clark to make it 3-1.
Rangers were reduced to 10 men in the 69th minute when Halliday reacted to a Fyvie challenge by barging into the Hibs’ midfielder.
Boyle then replaced McGinn as Hibs desperately looked to get back into the game and Cummings went close after latching onto a Stevenson cross.
Boyle was brought down on the edge of the box by Wallace after a fine run, but Henderson’s resultant free kick went close.
With five minutes remaining, a long hopeful ball from Fyvie was missed by the Rangers defenders and Malonga headed the ball into the net from close range.
Hibs pressed forwards then in time added on, Waghorn picked up a clearance on the right wing before cutting inside, beating Fyvie and firing the ball past Oxley.
The result means that Hibs now train leaders Rangers by three points going into 2016.
Rangers: Foderingham, Tavernier, Wilson, Kiernan, Wallace, Halliday, Law, Holt, Miller, Waghorn, McKay. Subs: Kelly, Ball, Thompson, Shiels, Oduwa, Clark, Zelalem
Hibs: Oxley, Gray, Henderson, Hanlon, Fyvie, Stevenson, McGeouch, McGinn, Keatings, McGregor, Cummings. Subs: Reguero, Fontaine, Malonga, Boyle, Feruz, Anier, Bartley
Referee Bobby Madden
Attendance 49,995
Photo by John Preece
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
