THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Dropped points could prove costly for Ibrox men as Hibs breach their record-breaking defence
RANGERS had gone so long without losing a goal in the Premiership, you began to wonder if they might find a vaccine for Covid-19 before it happened again.
Steven Gerrard’s team pitched up at Easter Road on the back of seven clean sheets in the league. Hamilton’s David Moyo was the last player to breach their defence in the SPFL way back in March and, since then, there’s been some understandable singing and dancing over records and history.
And yet, the longest run of league clean sheets in 114 years always needed a bit of context.
Until this game, Rangers’ Premiership opponents had adopted a safety-first approach. They sat deep, focused on getting their shape and organisation right, and offered precious little in attack. Livingston got some joy from staging a modern-day re-enactment of Little Bighorn, but no one else did.
Kudos to Jack Ross, then, for spotting a gap in the market for attacking ambition. Finally asked some serious questions, the Rangers defence toiled to find the answers.
In time, the record books will show Gerrard’s side went 776 minutes without conceding a goal in the league. They had a hell of a run. But, when the barriers finally fell, the damage extended beyond the concession of two preventable goals. The loss of another two points could be costly.
It barely seems like yesterday when the postponement of two Celtic games offered the prospect of Rangers enjoying an 11-point gap over their bitter rivals.
Yet, when it comes to pressure points, the questions are still too often asked Rangers and not by them.
Hibs were worth their point in the end, albeit they needed a truly outstanding double save from goalkeeper Ofir Marciano to deny Scott Arfield the winner 11 minutes from time.
Chasing their first win over the visitors since 2016, the only real chance the Leith team had of asking questions was by doing what no other Scottish club had managed against Rangers this season. Scoring a goal.
They took 22 minutes to do it. Despite missing a second-half sitter, Kevin Nisbet had a fine game, leading the line with strength and courage.
Before the goal, the new signing from Dunfermline forced Jon McLaughlin into a fingertip save from a half volley from 16 yards. Nisbet then played a big role in the opener when he won a header against Borna Barisic to flick the ball out right to Martin Boyle.
The winger took his time before bypassing the Croat with a fine cutback. Drey Wright, a summer arrival from St Johnstone, swept the ball low into the net through the legs of McLaughlin from 12 yards for his first goal of any description since a strike for the Perth side in August 2018.
For Hibs, the selection of two wingers and two attackers sacrificed a body in midfield and always represented a risk. Without Joe Aribo, Rangers are less creative in midfield than they would be otherwise.
The anger the visitors nursed over an apparent elbow on Ianis Hagi from Paul Hanlon — punished with a yellow card — did nothing to offset the frustration felt at failing to make the extra man in midfield count. Rangers started the game with purpose but were slightly fortunate to be level at half-time after a laboured 45 minutes.
Alfredo Morelos missed a glorious chance after ten minutes. A James Tavernier corner came in, Alex Gogic let the Colombian go and a downward headed effort went wide of the post. Morelos made amends with his fifth goal of the season seconds before half-time. Ryan Kent played a onetwo with Steven Davis then clipped the ball towards the back post. Paul McGinn was sucked in and the ball landed at the feet of Morelos to convert. For Hibs, the timing could hardly have been worse. For Steven Gerrard, it was a godsend. Settled by the equaliser,
Rangers threatened to take the game by the scruff of the neck. The foraging runs of Tavernier exploited the inexperience of fullback Josh Doig. The Ibrox captain was central to his team claiming the lead for the first time in the game after 57 minutes.
His piercing pass towards Arfield (left) produced a lovely piece of football, a quick, intelligent one-two with Hagi creating space for the midfielder to prod the ball beyond the outstretched hand of Marciano and in off the inside of the post.
Rangers would probably have suffocated Hibs completely but for the Israeli keeper. If he makes saves like this in next month’s Euro 2020 play-off at Hampden, Scotland have a problem.
After 62 minutes, an inch-perfect Hagi pass sent Kent in on goal and Marciano had to show strong hands to keep his driven effort out.
Hibs were retreating dangerously deep into their shell. The Sky Sports stats showing 75 per cent possession for the away side told no lies — and that made the final scoreline a pretty satisfying outcome from a home perspective.
They had blown a wonderful chance to equalise when Ryan Porteous flicked a Joe Newell cross from the left towards goal. There was an air of the Keystone Cops about Nisbet and Doidge as they both failed to convert the loose ball from close range.
Rangers had failed to make their possession count, though, and with 20 minutes to play Hibs were back in the game.
Boyle looked offside when he gathered the ball and started galloping towards the left flank. At times you wonder why bigger clubs seem reluctant to take a punt on the Australian international. Taking his time, a glance up produced an inviting cross for Doidge to attack, the striker getting above a weak jump from Filip Helander to bullet home an equaliser.
Rangers didn’t see it coming. No
one did. The Ibrox side threw bodies forward — Jermain Defoe and Cedric Itten were late subs — in search of a winner. Their desperation intensified when Arfield was denied not once, but twice, by a brilliant double save.
A superb run on to a lofted Davis through ball saw Arfield denied with a controlled volley. Odds on to convert the loose ball, Marciano brilliantly blocked his second effort, the midfielder collapsing to his knees in disbelief.
Collectively, Rangers and their fans knew how he felt.
HIBERNIAN (4-4-2): Marciano 8; Hanlon 6, Porteous 7, P McGinn 6, Doig 5 (Stevenson 62); Newell 6, Gogic 6; Wright 7 (Hallberg 90) Boyle 7; Nisbet 7, Doidge 7. Subs not used: Barnes, Gray, Mallan, Gullan, S McGinn, McGregor, Shanley. Booked: Porteous, Hanlon, P McGinn, Boyle. RANGERS (4-2-3-1): McLaughlin 6; Tavernier 7, Helander 5, Goldson 6, Barisic 6; Kamara 6 (Itten 85), Arfield 7; Davis 6, Hagi 7 (Defoe 75), Kent 7; Morelos 6. Subs not used: McGregor, Bassey, Edmundson, Patterson, Jones, Balogun, Barjonas. Booked: Morelos. Man of the match: Ofir Marciano. Referee: Don Robertson.