Former Hibs manager Alex McLeish brings his Rangers side to Easter Road on Sunday and we have the unusual advantage of having an eight point cushion over the SPL champions.
Last week we could’ve stretched that to eleven points after Rangers lost the Old Firm derby but we threw away the three points to Falkirk after being two goals up.
We can’t allow that to happen this week, we’ve got to tighten up at the back and not allow Rangers to get behind the defence. Luckily for us Rangers are struggling to score at the moment although we can’t take anything for granted.
Winning this will be a massive result for us as it would take us ELEVEN points clear of last years SPL champions and hopefully Hearts and Celtic will slip up and we can close the gap on them at the top.
Vital Quotes:
Ian Murray, Rangers: ‘We have to start winning matches, it’s not a case of sitting back and hoping for the best.
Tony Mowbray, Hibs manager: ‘If we had got the positive result last week then that would have been six league wins on the bounce, and perhaps the expectation levels then from our players would have been such that I?d have had to try and temper it a bit.’
Hibernian Team News:
Hibernian will give late fitness tests to David Murphy, Gary Caldwell, Gary Smith, Michael Stewart and Kevin Thomson.
Player to watch: Scott Brown
Hopefully he can give the Rangers defence a torrid time.
Rangers Team News:
Rangers are still without strikers Dado Prso, Nacho Novo and Federico Nieto plus defenders Olivier Bernard and Julien Rodriguez.
Thomas Buffel is still not ready for a return.
Player to watch: Marvin Andrews
Former Livvy defender Andrews will be a tough nut to crack.
Match Facts & Stats
Last meeting: Rangers 0 Hibernian 3, SPL, Aug 27th
Hibs record v Gers at Easter Road: P136 W32 D39 L65 F147 A202
Ref Watch:
Sunday’s man in the middle is Stuart Dougal.
Match Prediction:
A tight one this but hopefully we can sneak it. Saying that, a draw wouldn’t be a disaster and it would keep us eight points clear of Rangers.
Hibs 1 Rangers 1
Next Fixtures:
Hibernian v Dundee Utd (away) Dec 3rd
Rangers v Falkirk (home) Dec 3rd
One you need to win methinks.