Rangers 3-1 Hibernian : Clement’s men tune up for Old Firm with win that sends them top

[Pelican Press 0]

Rangers 3-1 Hibernian : Clement’s men tune up for Old Firm with win that sends them top

James Tavernier’s 22nd goal of the season broke the deadlock for the visitors.

Rangers returned to the summit of the Scottish Premiership as they picked off Hibernian at Ibrox.

A frenetic first half saw James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers score either side of a Myziane Maolida equaliser for the visitors, who drop out of the top six with two games left before the split.

VAR chaos reigned earlier when Rangers were awarded a contentious penalty missed by Tavernier before Scott Wright smacked home the rebound, only to be penalised for encroachment.

The second ******* slowed down as Rangers kept things ticking over, before substitute ****** Matondo settled the game with a gorgeous curling effort.

With an Old Firm derby looming next weekend, Phillippe Clement’s side are two points ahead of Celtic, who will have played a game more when they travel to Livingston on Sunday.

A dull affair descended into chaos when VAR ruled that Nectarios Triantis’ flailing arm in the face of John Souttar merited a spot-kick.

Hibs were incandescent, and momentarily thought they had a reprieve when David Marshall saved his fourth penalty of the season, only to watch Wright rifle the rebound into the far corner.

The winger believed he had atoned for missing a sitter moments earlier, but his frustration was compounded as the tightest of calls, and another lengthy review, left the scoreline level.

As he so often does, captain Tavernier took control of the situation to thump home an unstoppable finish as Rangers found the breakthrough.

The first-half drama was not to end there. Maolida’s equaliser came out of nowhere in Hibs’ first real showing of menace, with the January signing grabbing his seventh goal since arriving in the capital.

Determined to restore their lead before the break, Todd Cantwell’s wonderful delivery did all the work for Dessers to ease an expectant Ibrox crowd with a crashing header.

An early second-half flurry from the hosts spelled danger for a Hibs side that competed well for large spells. Cantwell asked more questions, while Dessers could have added another if not for Marshall’s sprawling save.

It turned into an exhibition in control and restraint as Rangers once again moved into pole position. Matondo’s beauty was simply the cherry on the cake.

The same cool composure will be vital if they’re to prevail in next weekend’s crucial meeting of the title contenders.

Player of the match – James Tavernier (Rangers)

His commitment to the Rangers cause can’t be questioned. The captain battled through a late injury when his side had used up all their changes, and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck at a pivotal moment

Rangers keep confidence with Old Firm to come – analysis

Had Rangers slipped up here, the psychological ***** with the Old Firm on the horizon could have been terminal. There’s fine margins in this absorbing title tussle, and any misstep has the potential to derail either challenger.

The Ibrox side weren’t at their most convincing, but in truth, were never under too much pressure. Even after the equaliser, Clement’s side continued to look assured and got their noses in front again without breaking too much sweat.

After a spell of having a crowded physios’ room, the Rangers bench looked far more healthy. Cantwell thrived in his favoured number 10 role, while Abdallah Sima and Dujon Sterling got minutes under their belt off the bench.

For the second consecutive meeting with Rangers, Hibs showed more mettle than is often associated with Nick Montgomery’s side.

Their improvement since the cavalry arrived in the winter window has been marked. Maolida may be the pick of the bunch, with his strength and savvy to stay on his feet and poke the ball home giving the travelling support hope of a rare Ibrox scalp.

Dundee’s victory at St Johnstone means Hibs drop out of the top six for the moment. The Easter Road outfit must find their feet again quickly if they’re to avoid a deflating finish in the bottom half of the table.

What’s next?

Rangers’ attention shifts to Sunday’s Old Firm derby as they host Celtic at Ibrox (12:00 BST), while Hibs host St Johnstone the day prior (15:00).

Line-ups

Rangers

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Butland

2Tavernier6Goldson5Souttar31Barisic

42Diomande4Lundstram

23Wright13Cantwell7Fábio Silva

9Dessers

• 1Butland
• 2Tavernier
• 6Goldson
• 5Souttar
• 31BarisicBooked at 64minsSubstituted forMcCauslandat 67′minutes
• 42DiomandeBooked at 87mins
• 4Lundstram
• 23WrightSubstituted forSterlingat 58′minutesBooked at 90mins
• 13CantwellSubstituted forLawrenceat 58′minutes
• 7Fábio SilvaSubstituted forMatondoat 79′minutes
• 9DessersSubstituted forSimaat 80′minutes

Substitutes

• 11Lawrence
• 17Matondo
• 19Sima
• 21Sterling
• 27Balogun
• 28McCrorie
• 38King
• 43Raskin
• 45McCausland

Hibernian

Formation 4-1-4-1

1Marshall

12Cadden5Fish33Bushiri21Obita

23Triantis

7Youan20Marcondes11Newell17Maolida

19Le Fondre

• 1Marshall
• 12CaddenSubstituted forLevittat 83′minutesBooked at 89mins
• 5Fish
• 33BushiriBooked at 90mins
• 21ObitaSubstituted forStevensonat 83′minutes
• 23TriantisBooked at 20minsSubstituted forMoriah-Welshat 59′minutes
• 7YouanSubstituted forBoyleat 70′minutes
• 20Marcondes
• 11Newell
• 17Maolida
• 19Le FondreSubstituted forda Veiga Vieira Tavaresat 59′minutes

Substitutes

• 4Hanlon
• 6Levitt
• 10Boyle
• 13Wollacott
• 14Mayenda
• 16Stevenson
• 29da Veiga Vieira Tavares
• 30Moriah-Welsh
• 44MacIntyre

Referee:

David Dickinson

Attendance:

50,304

Live Text

1. Match ends, Rangers 3, Hibernian 1.

2. Second Half ends, Rangers 3, Hibernian 1.

3. Attempt missed. Abdallah Sima (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by ****** Matondo following a fast break.

4. Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

5. Tom Lawrence (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

6. Foul by Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian).

7. ****** Matondo (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

8. Foul by Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Hibernian).

9. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

10. Delay in match because of an injury James Tavernier (Rangers).

11. Dujon Sterling (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

12. Dylan Levitt (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

13. Foul by Dujon Sterling (Rangers).

14. Martin Boyle (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15. Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by John Souttar.

16. Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by John Souttar.

17. Mohamed Diomande (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

18. Foul by Mohamed Diomande (Rangers).

19. Myziane Maolida (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

20. Goal! Rangers 3, Hibernian 1. ****** Matondo (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dujon Sterling.

Player of the match

Moriah-WelshNathan Moriah-Welsh

Rangers

1. Squad number17Player nameMatondo

2. Squad number21Player nameSterling

3. Squad number1Player nameButland

4. Squad number2Player nameTavernier

5. Squad number4Player nameLundstram

6. Squad number9Player nameDessers

7. Squad number19Player nameSima

8. Squad number5Player nameSouttar

9. Squad number13Player nameCantwell

10. Squad number45Player nameMcCausland

11. Squad number11Player nameLawrence

12. Squad number7Player nameFábio Silva

13. Squad number42Player nameDiomande

14. Squad number6Player nameGoldson

15. Squad number23Player nameWright

16. Squad number31Player nameBarisic

Hibernian

1. Squad number30Player nameMoriah-Welsh

2. Squad number1Player nameMarshall

3. Squad number5Player nameFish

4. Squad number17Player nameMaolida

5. Squad number12Player nameCadden

6. Squad number7Player nameYouan

7. Squad number11Player nameNewell

8. Squad number19Player nameLe Fondre

9. Squad number21Player nameObita

10. Squad number20Player nameEmiliano Marcondes

11. Squad number23Player nameTriantis

12. Squad number33Player nameBushiri

13. Squad number10Player nameBoyle

14. Squad number16Player nameStevenson

15. Squad number6Player nameLevitt

16. Squad number29Player nameJair Tavares

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#Rangers #Hibernian #Clements #men #tune #Firm #win #sends #top

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