The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Gers come from behind to boost case for Murty
Caretaker boss masterminds fourth win in a row for Ibrox club
HIBERNIAN 1 RANGERS 2
Graeme Murty further boosted his chances of landing the Rangers job permanently by masterminding another gritty 2-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road last night.
The Ibrox caretaker has now added the scalp of Neil Lennon’s team having previously taken those of Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes and Hearts manager Craig Levein.
Yet his team had to come from behind after Lewis Stevenson put Hibs ahead early with a deflected opener.
Josh Windass levelled with his fifth goal in eight games before Alfredo Morelos scored the goal which keeps Gers in second, six points ahead of the fourth-placed Leith outfit, who were unlucky to see substitute Brandon Barker twice denied by the post.
Murty, whose second stint as interim boss will continue until at least the end of the month, now has six wins from eight games in charge this term as he looks to steady the Ibrox ship.
The caretaker boss said: “I’m delighted with the three points but I endured that more than enjoyed it.
“The lads showed good spirit and battling nature.”
The hosts looked determined to make the most of Martin Boyle’s pace down the right early on but the ninth-minute opener came from the opposite flank.
Left-back Stevenson released Simon Murray into the box from deep before carrying on his run as Bruno Alves failed to get tight enough to the former Dundee United striker.
When Murray cut the ball back for Stevenson on the edge of the box, Gers’ Portuguese centre-back was forced to lunge in but only managed to divert the ball past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
Rangers should have levelled midway through the half, only for Morelos to somehow miss the target from three yards after being presented with a free header from Declan John’s back-post corner.
And they had to be bailed out by Foderingham when John failed to cut out Oli Shaw’s pass to Boyle.
Having been outplayed for most of the opening 42 minutes, though, Gers suddenly found themselves ahead at the break.
Their equaliser came as Daniel Candeias, on for the injured Kenny Miller, got lucky with the break of the ball.
Jason Holt did not hang about and quickly sent Windass scampering through and he finished brilliantly into the far corner.
If Ofir Marciano’s part in Rangers’ first was questionable, he was undoubtedly to blame for their second.
With the clock into stoppage-time, Holt, Candeias and Jamie Barjonas combined to slice through the Hibs midfield.
Morelos did not appear to be in a shooting position as he collected out wide but tied Paul Hanlon in knots before beating Marciano at the nearpost as the keeper dived to cut out the expected cross.
Rangers got lucky again just moments after the restart as Murray failed to apply a finish to another quality Boyle delivery, while at the other end Morelos fluffed another header as he failed to bury a James Tavernier cross.
But Hibs continued to apply pressure, with Barker foiled by the woodwork on a couple of occasions after twice ghosting past Tavernier.
They should have had a penalty with quarter of an hour left but referee Kevin Clancy failed to spot David Bates’ blatant handball.
It was all hands to the pump for Murty’s side in the closing stages but they stood firm for another vital three points.
Attendance:
20,057
Hibernian:
Marciano, McGregor, Ambrose, Hanlon, Boyle, McGeouch, McGinn, Stevenson, Simon Murray (Whittaker 88), Shaw (Barker 51), Stokes. Subs not used: Bartley, Slivka, Fraser Murray, Porteous, Dabrowski.
Foderingham, Tavernier, Bruno Alves, Danny Wilson, John, McCrorie, Holt, Barjonas (Bates 73), Windass, Morelos (Herrera 84), Miller (Candeias 15). Subs not used: Hodson, Kranjcar, Pena, Kelly.
Kevin Clancy
Rangers: Referee: