Source: FOOTYMAD
Hibs 0 Rangers 2
Sorry Hibs could do nothing to stop Rangers pick up the three points Hibs failed to halt their poor run as Rangers got back on the winning trail with a 2-0 win at Easter Road. Nikica Jelavic returned in the starting line up for the visitors and celebrated with a goal after Madjid Bougherra set the ball rolling with the opener. The win saw Rangers bounce back from defeat to Hearts at the weekend, while Hibs remain deep in the relegation danger zone. Vladimir Weiss was also drafted into the Rangers side and Maurice Edu and Kyle Lafferty were dropped to the bench. Hibs managed to find space for just one of their recent signings, Richie Towell, and Colin Nish was also given the nod as Steven Thicot and Darryl Duffy were listed among the substitutes. The game was less than a minute old when Weiss went on a surging run from deep in his own half into the opposition box before putting the ball across the face of goal where Steven Naismith just failed to connect at the back post. The pair combined again when Weiss squared from the left and Naismith bore down on goal only for goalkeeper Graeme Smith to race off his line and save well at the Rangers player's feet before he could unleash a clean shot. Jelavic then attempted to turn provider for Naismith but he took a touch that was just too heavy and again allowed Smith to smother, before Allan McGregor gathered a tame shot from Danny Galbraith at the other end. Rangers always looked the team most likely to open the scoring and with 26 minutes gone they did. Weiss dusted himself off after winning a free-kick and lofted the ball into the packed box where a headed clearance fell kindly for Bougherra to send an angled volley into the bottom corner. Rangers could have doubled their advantage when Weiss whipped a tempting cross from the right into the path of Jelavic but he was just too slow to connect with the goal at his mercy. However, the Croatian was on the scoresheet after 35 minutes when he pounced on a poor back-pass from Towell before coolly rounding Smith and slotting the ball into the empty net from six yards. Hibs started the second half determined to haul themselves back into the game and Ian Murray was not too far away with a ferocious volley from the edge of the area that was gratefully blocked by McGregor. The Rangers goalkeeper was called into action again, this time to parry a curling Merouane Zemmama free-kick past his right-hand post after Jamie Ness had felled Galbraith 25 yards out. Hibs had replaced Kevin McBride with Edwin de Graaf at the break and they also threw David Wotherspoon and Derek Riordan into the action with just over an hour gone. Edu then replaced Weiss for Rangers. Jelavic was withdrawn for Lafferty seconds after picking up a booking for clashing with Paul Hanlon, who was also booked for his part in the confrontation. Rangers could have ended any hopes of a comeback when Naismith tried to pick out Lafferty as he bore down on goal but Smith intercepted and swiped to safety before he could stab home. The big striker then turned provider with a cut-back for Steven Davis who saw his point-blank shot denied by a great save from Smith, as Rangers held on for the points anyway. Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
