Rangers 2-0 Hibs – Report

Hibs now have it all to do with Rangers very much on control now and well on their way to the Premiership play-off final with Motherwell following a first leg win of the semi final at Ibrox on Wednesday.

Stubbs wanted Hibs to remain in touch of Rangers with a draw or a ‘narrow defeat’, I’m not sure where two-nil fits into this scenario as I’m not sure this was as narrow as he would have wanted!

The spell in the sun that we had in Spain looked like it had worked it’s magic, in more ways than one, as we didn’t appear to be feeling the pressure at all as we started positively and relaxed whereas Rangers had only just recovered from the ¼ final second leg with Queen of the South that brought about this tie….We might have started the better of the sides but the efforts were limited with Craig causing few problems from with Vuckic always a threat for Rangers.

A first half, destined to end goalless, changed in the final minute when Vuckic created something from nothing really when he managed to feed Foster who crossed into Clark (44) and he beat Bolton loanee ‘keeper Oxley to make it one-nil.

That previous calmness about Hibs changed as the support from the home fans grew, the nerves started to become more apparent and the mistakes increased as the previous anxiety from the Rangers fans was transferred to our players.

Malonga wasn’t able to show the composure required as we went in search of a much needed equaliser, you felt, as he headed over from an Allan corner when he’ll know he should have done better from close range.

Again Vuckic was involved in the second as Rangers doubled their lead, when the ball ran to him he found Miller (63) and the striker fired past Oxley to make it two-nil just past the hour mark and leave Hibs with it all to do.

This lead was protected with Rangers in a strong position going into the second leg at Easter Road this weekend whereas our players appeared to have the look of a side resigned to defeat at fulltime but there’s still hope, there would have been more if we could have scored at least once mind!