But the most important statistic is the one which says Ronald de Boer scored in the 49th minute to give Rangers a precious victory which sees them move to within two points of the Easter Road men, who have played a game more.
With Arthur Numan still suspended and Tony Vidmar out through injury, Dick Advocaat was always going to have a headache in assembling his defence for the visit of Alex McLeish’s men.
To solve the problem the Dutchman handed Sergio Porrini his first starting place in almost two months, the Italian not having featured since the League Cup win over Dundee United at the end of October.
Rangers, knowing nothing less than three points would be acceptable, started the game well and were the better side but Hibs looked confident on the ball and played a neat passing game with their main aim to counter attack.
The first chance of the game fell to De Boer when Neil McCann found him with a good cross from the left-hand side but the unmarked Dutchman but his header wide of the post.
Then in the 12th minute Stefan Klos had to be alert to save a volleyed effort from Ulrik Laursen but the capacity Ibrox crowd – not to mention Advocaat – didn’t think the linesman was very alert and were incensed he hadn’t signalled for offside in the build-up to the chance.
Three minutes later De Boer had what was easily the best chance of the game when he fired wide from about three yards out following some good work by Claudio Reyna and Fernando Ricksen to create the opening.
With a lot at stake in this game it was always going to be a fiery encounter and it exploded in the 24th minute when Hibs were left raging with Barry Ferguson after he appeared to kick Hibs’ Nick Colgan after the ‘keeper had collected the ball.
Kenny Miller’s 21st birthday hadn’t got off to the best of starts when he was left on the bench against his old club but Advocaat introduced the youngster at half-time along with Tugay Kerimoglu while Michael Mols and Sergio Porrini were withdrawn.
And the tactical change appeared to have worked as Rangers put more nd more pressure on Hibs before breaking the deadlock four minutes after the re-start. It was a carbon copy of the very first chance of the game with McCann again crossing from the left to De Boer who headed home this time.
Rangers appeared to sit back on their lead which was dangerous with Hibs threatening to net an equaliser but they were restricted to long-range efforts which failed to cause Klos any serious trouble.
Then late in the game referee Kenny Clark – who had already booked EIGHT players – sent off another TWO within the space of a couple of minutes. Albertz was first to walk after he appeared to raise his hands to Hibs’ Gary Smith and he was closely followed by John O’Neil who was dismissed for a kick at Claudio Reyna.
RANGERS: Klos, Ricksen, Amoruso, Porrini (Tugay 45), Konterman, Reyna, Ferguson, De Boer (Dodds 88), McCann, Mols (Miller 45), Albertz Subs (not used): Christiansen, Ross
HIBERNIAN: Colgan, Laursen (Murray 45), Sauzee, Lovell, Paatelainen, Latapy (Andrews 84), O’Neill, Fenwick, Smith, Jack, Zitelli (McManus 40) Subs (not used): Franks, Lehman
Scorers: Rangers – De Boer (49)
Bookings: Rangers – Reyna (15), Ferguson (24), Amoruso (75), McCann (80); Hibs – Zitelli (10), Jack (24), Fenwick (77), Smith (85)
Sent off: Rangers – Albertz (85); Hibs – O’Neil (87)