BOSSED IT... BUT LOST IT
PREMIERSHIP ACTION Lenny’s men on top in epic clash but Gers stand firm to earn win
RANGERS were battered and bruised but would not be beaten. Sometimes fortune does favour the brave.
The Ibrox men had a good deal of luck to grab the points in yet another seismic clash with Hibs.
But, blimey, did they earn their win by showing courage under fire.
Neil Lennon was left cursing the fates – as well as his goalkeeper – after an unbelievable night in the capital.
The Hibs boss watched his side boss Gers for just about the entire 90 minutes but they were undone on a couple of occasions after taking a sawn-off shotgun to their foot.
Josh Windass and Alfredo Morelos brilliantly turned this epic encounter on its head in three crazy minutes before the end of the first half after Lewis Stevenson had Hibs on their way and comfortably on top.
But keeper Ofir Marciano didn’t half give Gers a helping hand.
He didn’t look too clever for the cool Windass low drive.
He practically jumped out of the way when Morelos let rip and beat him at his near post for the winner.
In took an enormous show of guts for Rangers to see it out though. Missing key men through injuries and suspensions – with Ross McCrorie patched up and fellow kid Jamie Barjonas chucked in, they had to dig deep and hang tough.
But they did. And all of sudden this ramshackle rabble under Pedro Caixinha has been given a backbone by Graeme Murty.
The case for giving him the gig full-time strengthens by the week.
This might not have been pretty but it was another huge win for the man left holding the baby.
In the other dugout Lennon could have been forgiven for lobbing the toys out of the pram as his men conceded cheap goals, missed loads of chances and had a huge shout for a penalty. It was never going to be dull, was it? This fixture has turned into a fasten the seatbelts and stick on the crash helmet job – with an incredible 33 goals between them in their last seven square-goes and drama at every turn.
This was never going to be any different and you could just feel something crackling in the air.
The tone was set before kick-off. Helpful Hibees in the Famous Five Stand unfurled a banner with David Gray’s Hampden celebration, just in case the Gers punters had erased that Scottish Cup Final from their memories.
Like that could happen. Not when the fierce rivalry also spilled over when they collided at Ibrox in August – with all kinds of mayhem in the 3-2 win for the Easter Road men.
Gers fans were giving it laldy as well. It was as if the entire place knew more fun and games were to come.
It was hardly a shock to see them both go hell for leather right from the off – and Easter Road erupted inside eight minutes.
Stevenson started and finished the move. His ball in behind fed Simon Murray and the striker skinned Bruno Alves before picking out his pal on the edge of the box. Stevenson found the bottom corner with a nick off Alves along the way for good measure.
Rangers were rattled and it got worse as Kenny Miller skidded awkwardly after being turned by Dylan McGeouch and ended up off on a stretcher.
Hibs were bossing the middle of the park – with John McGinn and McGeouch winning everything and pulling the strings – while Martin Boyle was tormenting his man on the right.
Gers could – and should – have been level mind you when Declan John’s corner found Morelos at the back post but the hitman sent his header wide.
Lennon’s men were the slicker though and could have been out of sight after slashing open the Rangers defence twice in a minute.
Paul Hanlon burst into the box and his drive was beaten out by Wes Foderingham who brilliantly blocked Boyle seconds later after Oli Shaw’s stunning reverse ball inside.
Rangers were struggling to string a few passes together and could barely get out of their own half.
Windass was so isolated he was in danger of catching hypothermia and when he finally did get the ball he spooned it into the stand.
Moments later Barjonas fired wide from 25 yards. It wasn’t much but it was a momentum shift.
Gers were being battered then finally landed a blow three minutes before half-time as Hibs got caught cold.
Jason Holt picked out Windass and he superbly took the ball early and buried it in the far corner.
Incredibly, Rangers struck again right on the break as Morelos twisted and turned before tucking the ball inside