Covid concerns for Rangers as Standard star tests positive
Rangers were last night dragged into the Covid-19 crisis that is starting to grip football.
Their Europa League opponents last Thursday night, Standard Liege, have reported another three positive Covid-19 results.
Midfielder Maxime Lestienne – who started and played 72 minutes against the Light Blues before being replaced – and unused substitute, Eden Shamir, are among the new cases to hit the Belgian outfit.
Teenage striker Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba has also tested positive for Covid-19 but was not among the Standard squad which suffered a 2-0 Europa League defeat to Steven Gerrard’s team.
Tapsoba had already been told to isolate after team-mates Michel-ange Balikwisha, Nicolas Raskin and Moussa Sissako were found to have contracted the virus on the eve of the Gers clash.
The newly-affected trio will now sit out today’s Jupiler Pro League clash with Sint-truidense VV, and as well as this week’s Europa League trip to Benfica.
Meanwhile, Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer last night called into question the SPFL’S handling of the Covid-19 crisis.
He said: “If they’re going to start blaming, or having inquiries, every time someone goes down with the virus, they’re going to be busy.”
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson watched on as Hibs warmed up for the club’s longdelayed Scottish Cup semifinal with an impressive league win.
Since losing to Celtic in the east end of Glasgow back in September, Jack Ross’s side have been unbeaten in their Premiership and League Cup run-outs.
And here, up against a robust and resolute opponent, they were good value for the points.
True, a penalty – hotlydisputed by Killie manager Alex Dyer – was the only difference between the two teams.
Nevertheless, the sight of Christian Doidge, Stephen Mallan and Joe Newell in fine form will have both cheered Hibs fans ahead of the Hampden derby and given Neilson food for thought.
“We are in a good place,” said Hibs manager Jack Ross with a smile.
“If you come into my changing-room, you will see how happy it is. It’s not easy
winning here and we did that.
“I have a group of players who are excited about the semi-final and in the best possible frame of mind going into that type of game.”
This game was pretty decent from the off with the two teams both playing open attractive football, albeit with a competitive edge.
Just as it started looking as if it would be in danger of flattening out unless a goal was scored, it got one.
The ill-fated Clevid Dikamona got in a bit of a muddle on the edge of Killie’s box, where he was drawn into conceding a foul on Christian Doidge.
It was a costly one, with referee Colin Steven reacting by booking the player and awarding a penalty against Killie.
Kevin Nisbet, a striker who has looked comfortable at the level since moving to Hibs from Dunfermline in the summer, stepped up and scored with a cool conversion.
Worse was to follow for Dikamona before the interval.
From the moment the Congo international fell heavily in the middle of the pitch, it was clear he was in trouble.
There was a delay of a couple of minutes as medics carefully fitted a brace around his right calf and ankle then lifted him on to a stretcher.
Players and coaches of both
teams clapped him off as he departed.
Although it was a poignant moment, things quickly got back to normal with both sides throwing themselves into challenges as Killie chased an equaliser.
Greg Kiltie was the one who came closest with an effort cleared off the goal line by Nisbet.
In fairness, the home side were forced to do some lastgasp stuff themselves with Stuart Findlay, replacement for Dikamona, making a couple of athletic blocks on snuff out shots from first Doidge, then Nisbet.
Hibs introduced Josh Doig for Lewis Stevenson at halftime and the switch definitely brought some extra energy into the visitors’ play.
Stevie Mallan, playing in front of Doig, especially seemed to benefit as he caught the eye more.
One crossfield pass from the outside of his foot teed up Paul Mcginn who shot just wide.
A couple of minutes later, he himself came close after drifting inside to try his luck from the edge of the box.
Alex Dyer must have taken note because he, too, turned to his bench in search of inspiration, bringing on Eamonn Brophy and Mitchell Pinnock to fire things up.
It worked – to an extent – but not enough.