Match Report: Rangers Defeat Hibs At Ibrox

CHAMPIONS Rangers’ 100 per-cent Scottish Premiership home record remains intact following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hibs at Ibrox this afternoon.

Leading 2-0 thanks to excellent goals either side of half-time from Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent, a Kevin Nisbet strike was to make for a nervy ending for Steven Gerrard’s men, but they held firm.

From the side which defeated Cove 4-0 in the Scottish Cup seven days ago, in came Allan McGregor, Borna Barisic, Aribo, Kent and Alfredo Morelos as part of five changes from boss Gerrard.

That meant it was a back five of McGregor in goal with Nathan Patterson, Connor Goldson, Fil Helander, and Barisic in front of him.

Aribo was in midfield next to Steven Davis and Glen Kamara, while up front, Kemar Roofe was joined by Kent and Morelos.

Before kick-off, a period of silence was immaculately observed by both sets of players and everyone present in the stadium in the memory of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, who sadly passed away at the age of 99 on Friday. His immeasurable contribution to British society will never be forgotten.

Rangers had much of the early play and possession, and technically, this was a really interesting watch in the early stages with Hibs pressing well and looking to pile forward when they had the opportunity.

Joe Aribo and Jackson Irvine traded efforts from long range before Rangers went through the gears on 19 minutes.

Firstly, wonderful Steven Davis play committed a number of Hibs players before he fed Alfredo Morelos to the left of goal. Morelos’ effort may well have been going in anyway, but Kemar Roofe made sure it found the net, only to be flagged for offside.

Gers kept their pressure up, however, and Roofe brought out a spectacular save from Ofir Marciano, meeting a sublime Borna Barisic cross with his head on the penalty spot. The rebound dropped for Morelos, with Marciano saving again before Joe Aribo too his chance.

Around 12 yards out but well to the right of goal, the ball came at him high, but he struck a wonderful first-time volley with his left foot beyond Marciano and into the bottom corner.

The bright, pleasant sunshine that Glasgow had been enjoying for much of the afternoon then gave way to a bizarre, unseasonable snowstorm.

Kevin Nisbet hit a rasping shot just wide as Hibs looked to respond, while Martin Boyle also had an effort which went by for a corner.

Gers were again on the front foot in the second half, Nathan Patterson firing over an Aribo cutback from just inside the area.

The Light Blues had a real head of steam up around the hour mark, and that led to a stunning, second goal on 62 minutes.

Cutting in from the right, Ryan Kent dances away from the attempted tackles of Paul Hanlon and Alex Gogic before, from fully 25-yards, blasting a phenomenal, curling drive beyond Marciano.

It was no more than the Light Blues deserved for what was a dominant second half in terms of territory.

Allan McGregor kept the clean sheet intact with a fine save from a Nisbet 30-yard free-kick, but the clean sheet did go on 79 minutes, Nisbet heading home from close range.

Marciano grasped a Ianis Hagi free-kick at the second attempt as Gers looked to reinstate their cushion, and while Hibs did go in search of that equaliser, the home side held firm to record yet another victory.

RANGERS: McGregor; Patterson, Goldson, Helander, Barisic; Aribo (Arfield, 71), Davis (Zungu, 89), Kamara; Roofe (Itten, 89), Kent, Morelos (Hagi, 71)

SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Simpson, Wright, Stewart.

HIBERNIAN: Marciano, Porteous, McGinn, Doidge (Cadden, 66), Boyle, Newell, Gogic (Hallberg, 84), Nisbet, Doig, Irvine (Magennis, 79).

SUBS: Macey, Gray, Wright, Stevenson, McGregor, Laidlaw.

REFEREE: Don Robertson.