Danny: Game was lost with Jack dismissal

DANNY WILSON admits Rangers never recovered from the controversial dismissal of Ryan Jack as they went down 3-2 to Hibs.

Pedro Caixinha’s side were ahead early on through Alfredo Morelos but Simon Murray’s equaliser brought the Hibees back into the game before Jack saw red just before the break.

Referee John Beaton infuriated the Ibrox crowd and boss Caixinha with the decision to send the midfielder off for his part in an incident with Anthony Stokes.

Wilson was introduced at the break as Rangers tried to launch a fightback but admits it was a long way back against Neil Lennon’s side.

He said: “It’s still early says in terms of the season. We’ve lost today and gone down to 10 men but up until that point I thought we looked pretty good.

“Obviously, we had to change it and chase the game a wee bit being a goal down going into the second half but we’ll move forward from this, of that I have no doubt.

“We started well but the sending off changed the game, no doubt about it. Hibs were just coming into it and it looked as if it was going to be a good game for the neutral anyway.

“There was ebb and flow either way and a bit of niggle but these things happen and we unfortunately lost. There’s still plenty of time to resurrect the rest of the season.

“I didn’t get a view of the red card, the fourth official was in my line of view. The game was competitive and I didn’t see the sending off so I didn’t know if it was or wasn’t a red card.

“There were tackles being put about by both teams, these things happen, you want a game that’s highly competitive and that’s what it was out there. Unfortunately for us we picked up the red card and it cost us.”

The Ibrox clash certainly lived up to its pre-match billing as both teams went all guns blazing.

Boss Caixinha spoke last week about his summer recruits being given time to get used to the physical nature of the game in Scotland and Wilson is confident the Gers will be up to speed soon.

He said: “There’s no doubt they are adapting, it won’t just happen straight away. The quicker it happens the better but they will do it. We need to become a team... we are still in the early phases of it.”

Wilson at least had a personal consolation as he got another 45 minutes under his belt. And now he hopes he can challenge Portuguese pair Bruno Alves and Fabio Cardoso for a starting spot.

He said: “I missed seven weeks of preseason with my knee injury of last season so I’m playing catchup in terms of fitness and match fitness as well.

“Unusually for a defender I’ve come on in the first three games of the season as a substitute. It’s not the ideal position for me as I would obviously prefer to be starting but I have to give respect to the two guys who are playing. It’s up to me to try and move them.”