Rangers today travel to Edinburgh for a lunchtime capital fixture with Hibernian. Rangers should be well aware it will be the toughest domestic fixture so far. It kicks off a run of games that will see the club travel not only to Hibs but Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts also in the near future. Even at this stage it is season defining form.
Rangers have shown glimpses and patches of form so far this season. It is obvious that it’s a work in progress as the team attempt to click into place and also wait for fitness from a few. Ben Davies and Ridvan Yilmaz the two still to get major game time in the side. The attacker quartet of Čolak, Matondo, Lawrence and Tillman have made a solid start with numbers posted.
Rangers will have options to change things after PSV on Tuesday and with the return leg in mind but they can’t underestimate the challenge of today. This is Easter Road and Rangers will need to be switched on from the off as Hibs will come fast at this Rangers side.
Line ups for both teams-
First half action
7-13 mins – Two attempts from Ryan Kent drifting in from Left to right, he has to do better and waits on both.
18 mins – Caution 📒 Henderson on Borna Barisic
20 mins – Caution 📒 Goldson on Boyle, poor from Barisic who plays his way into it
21 mins – Half a chance for Čolak as he heads Borna cross over
25 mins – Caution 📒 Doyle Hayes on Lundstram
28 mins – Hibs double change
35 mins – Another Kent effort from left is wide
36 mins – CHANCE! Lawrence free in centre and squares for Kent but it’s so wasteful, take a shot!!!
42 mins – Tavernier bends one wide
45 mins – PENALTY RANGERS! GOOOAAAALLLL, James Tavernier makes no mistake. 1-0 Rangers
📒 Caution Bashiri pulled back Čolak and spot kick given.
HALF TIME – HIBERNIAN 0 RANGERS 1
Second half action
52 mins – GOAL! Hibs equalise as Tav is caught, ball inside and Boyle is across to score. 1-1
55 mins – CAUTION 📒 Porteous
58 mins – GOAAAALLLL! Rangers lead 1-2! Wonderful Barisic cross is headed home by Lawrence. Cracking Rangers goal.
62 mins – Colak and Lawrence off, Morelos and Arfield on
66 mins – RED 📕 Lundstram fouls Boyle in hos own half, Rangers down to 10.
Substitution – Davis on Matondo off
75 mins – RED 📕 Morelos sent off for a petulant kick. A laughable decision from a referee that is a joke.
81 – SAVE! Header at back post saved by McLaughlin really well.
Various Hibs efforts wide or saved, basically Rangers defending the box.
90+2 – GOAL! Hibs equalise as ball breaks to edge of the box and Campbell half volleys in. 2-2
90+5 FT
FULL TIME – HIBERNIAN 2 RANGERS 2
A game that we never asserted ourselves on and then ultimately shot ourself in the foot. To be up at HT 0-1 it was there for us to kick on again which we failed to do. It’s clear this team have issues starting halves and despite Gio dismissing it this week I believe it is a big problem.
A poor goal to lose as Tav is sleeping we respond with a cracking team goal, a brilliant Borna cross is bulleted home by Lawrence. Then comes madness from the official.
John Lundstram takes Martin Boyle in his own half to stop a break. It’s not angoal scoring opportunity, it isn’t violent, it isn’t endangering the player but Collum can’t help himself. It’s bizarre that in the first half the exact same challenge brought a yellow for Hibs.
The next moment was simply collum at his best.
Morelos has a petulant kick out and the defender goes down. Alfredo is stupid but it’s not violent conduct and it’s not a red. Typical Collum who makes everything about himself every opportunity. Think back to Aberdeen way back in Gerrards FIRST game which we appealed and won. That law isn’t new. It’s just Collum being Collum.
From that moment Rangers were camped in their own half, basically around their box and it took a great strike at the end which was almost inevitable.
Another game that Collum has the headlines. Exactly what he wants.
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Four Lads Had A Dream 