STU’S GRIT

Broomloan Road that houses the Union Bears, whose letter to McCall at the weekend provided the manager with the inspiration for his pre-match address.

Ibrox was a perfect pandemonium on kick-off as the punters unfurled a banner that declared an expectation that every player would do his duty.

McCall played his part, dropping bombscare Bilel Mohsni from the squad all together after an eccentric appearance as sub in the 1-1 draw against Queen of the South.

Rangers fielded an unchanged starting line-up from the side that had impressed in stages against Queens but it was Hibs who started brightest, showing no ring rustiness after 18 days without a game.

Scott Allan and Jason Cummings were particularly perky as they picked up sharp passes in key areas with the Rangers defence caught between stepping up and leaving gaps in behind, or holding the line and standing firm.

Liam Craig almost took advantage of their indecision early on when he stepped forward and let fly with a shot from 25 yards that whizzed narrowly wide.

The Hibs skipper also found space to shoot after 15 minutes and, again, Cammy Bell was happy to see it soar a couple of metres over.

The Light Blues legions resorted to throwing crunched up bits of coloured paper from their pre-match tifosi at Hibs keeper Mark Oxley – and kicking them clear of his six-yard box was the extent of his involvement in the first quarter.

Rangers were nervous, ponderous and uncertain in possession. They almost paid the price when they lost the ball deep in the Hibs half and allowed Allan to run almost the length of the pitch.

The former Ibrox target linked with Lewis Stevenson and Dominique Malonga on the left and it needed Nicky Law to knock the cutback clear.

Rangers were shaken from their slumber and Miller mustered their first effort on target, stinging Oxley’s hands with a low shot from 18 yards.

Hibs were giving Law and Lee Wallace a torrid time down the right and after a Zaliukas stumble in the box, Malonga delivered a cross that just failed to pick out Cummings.

It was a pulsating affair, with the most incisive movements coming from Hibs.

Alan Stubbs’ side snapped around the ankles of their opponents, then snarled in the face of ref Calum Murray whenever a decision was given they did not like.

Rangers were hanging on by their very fingertips and Ibrox heaved a collective sigh of relief when Hibs forced three corners in succession as half-time approached and they came to nothing.

Then something quite remarkable