MEMO to anyone thinking of heading to a Rangers away game this season – don’t leave early.
At Kilmarnock three weeks ago, it took a Nuno Capucho header three minutes from time to finally seal the victory. They left it even later here.
With the score goalless and the Hibs support whistling for full-time with play deep into injury time, a scorching volley from Stephen Hughes belatedly earned Rangers all three badly-needed points.
Up until then the Light Blues – again missing six first team players – had been largely punchless up front but should have been awarded at least one penalty when Peter Lovenkrands was twice felled in the penalty box.
In the end Rangers claimed the win but it could have been a different story had Hibs not missed a glorious goalscoring chance midway through the first half when Ian Murray blazed a shot over the crossbar from a matter of yards.
The toothless manner of the display may have concerned the Rangers manager but gathering all three points was the most important aspect of the afternoon’s work.
On St Andrew’s Day, McLeish had chosen not to throw an extra Scot into the line-up – Chris Burke again started the match on the bench – with Michael Mols for Paolo Vanoli the only change to the side that lost in Germany in midweek.
Although they haven’t beaten Rangers for three years, Hibs have ran Rangers close on numerous occasions in the intervening period and the Light Blues found it tough again at a chilly Easter Road.
The energy and direct approach of Bobby Williamson’s men certainly belied their lowly ninth place in the SPL table as they made Rangers work hard for the win.
The battle down Hibs’ right flank between the two number 18s – Michael Ball and Scott Brown – was a particularly intriguing duel, with Brown evading his marker after 10 minutes to crack in a fierce drive that bulleted narrowly past Stefan Klos’ post.
Just minutes after picking up a booking for a foul on Mo Ross, Murray then passed up a glaring chance to send his side into the lead.
Alen Orman’s cross was craftily dummied by Grant Brebner to the back post where the Hibs captain somehow scooped the ball over the crossbar from a matter of yards.
In terms of sitters it was up there with Peter van Vossen’s howling miss at Celtic Park a few years ago and will no doubt make its way onto a Dennis Norden-hosted “Own Goals and Gaffes” video sometime soon.
With only two half-chances to their name – a Lovenkrands’ header wide in the first minute and a deflected Shota Arveladze effort – frustration was running high among the Rangers players, with Mols talking his way into a booking after a dust-up with Colin Murdock.
Hibs continued to enjoy the bulk of the chances, Arveladze clearing a stabbed effort from Mathias Doumbe off the line before Derek Riordan’s acrobatic volley sailed high into the relieved Rangers support behind the goal.
After struggling for the bulk of the first half, McLeish’s side should have gone in front with 40 minutes showing on the clock.
Lovenkrands finally delivered a telling ball from the left but Mols dallied on the ball and his shot cannoned off the legs of Daniel Andersson.
Perhaps frustrated after seeing his colleague pass up a decent chance, Arveladze then chances his luck with a Beckham-esque attempt from the half-way line.
Unlike the England captain’s strike against Wimbledon, however, the Georgian’s attempt drifted harmlessly wide rather than nestling in the back of the net.
McLeish resisted the temptation to tinker with his line-up during the break and just minutes after the re-start Arveladze blazed a shot wide.
Lovenkrands was starting to get himself more involved and he juggled a Ross cross on his chest only to see his thumping volley repelled by Andersson from a matter of yards.
Worse was to follow moments later for the Dane. Denied a stonewall penalty against Kilmarnock only a matter of weeks ago, he was the victim again of some atrocious refereeing.
A lung-busting run from Michael Ball had sent him on his way and when he entered the Hibs penalty box he was hauled to the ground by Murdock in a manner not seen since the rugby World Cup finished last weekend.
It seemed a certain spot kick but Stuart Dougal somehow decreed otherwise.
It didn’t look like it was going to be Lovenkrands’ day and on the hour mark it was third time unlucky for the Dane when he shot wide from a central position.
By that time Burke had replaced Capucho to an expectant roar from the Rangers support and his tantalising cross after 64 minutes was almost diverted past his own goalkeeper by the ubiquitous Murdock.
With Egil Ostenstad on for Mols, Rangers continued in their search for a winning goal but with little reward.
Their day was summed up after 80 minutes when Ostenstad did well to win the ball on the by-line, slid a pass into the feet of Lovenkrands – only for the Dane to take a fresh air swipe at the ball from 12 yards out.
His luck failed to improve moments later when he appeared to be dragged to the ground by Orman in the Hibs penalty box but again Stuart Dougal shook his head and said no.
Deep into injury time, Rangers finally got the strike that may just have kept alive their aspirations of retaining the league title.
Fernando Ricksen’s ball sat up kindly for Hughes and the Scotland under-21 star smashed a volley past the helpless Andersson.
It was perhaps harsh luck on Hibs but that won’t have concerned the Light Blues too much as they sped back along the M8 with all three points on board.
HIBERNIAN (4-4-2): 13 Andersson; 23 Orman, 14 Doumbe, 5 Murdock, 2 Smith; 18 Brown, 8 Brebner, 19 Thompson (Nicol 77), 6 Murray (Dobbie 56); 9 O’Connor, 10 Riordan
Subs not used: Hyldgard, McManus, Whittaker,
Booked: Murray (16), Brebner (33), Thompson (58)
RANGERS (4-4-2): 1 Klos; 21 Ross, 25 Berg, 15 Khizanishvili, 18 Ball; 20 Capucho (Burke 57), 2 Ricksen, 27 Hughes, 26 Lovenkrands; 7 Arveladze, 10 Mols (Ostenstad 69)
Subs not used: McGregor, Emerson, Vanoli
Booked: Mols (30), Ross (53), Lovenkrands (84)
Man of the Match: Henning Berg