In a game with few clear-cut openings, the Light Blues were unable to find the cutting edge to find an opening as they had to settle for a point after the 0-0 draw in the capital.
The Gers were back in league action following their European exploits coming to its conclusion on Thursday evening. Four days on from their clash in Porto the Head Coach made five changes, with Dujon Sterling, John Souttar, Tochi Chukwuani, Andreas Skov Olsen and Thelo Aasgaard coming into the side as the Gers targeted an eighth domestic win in a row.
After a head knock inside the early seconds of the game, The visitors looked to take the ascendancy in opening minutes and signal their intent from the off. Captain on the day John Souttar combined with Youssef Chermiti initially before spotting Jayden Meghoma well advanced down the left, some clever combination play with Djeidi Gassama who joined in seen the ball worked to Thelo Aasgaard, whose dangerous shot was deflected over the top.
From the resulting corner Rangers earned another, a deflection inside the six-yard area had Raphael Sallinger in goal scrambling initially but saw the ball loop over the top of his bar to safety.
After glimpses at either end Rangers had an opening of their own after a loose pass out from the Hibs defence. Chermiti picked it up midway through the opposing half, driving towards goal he opted against a left footed shot and looked to use Gassama on the overlap, but Kanayo Megwa did well on the cover to suss out the danger.
Past 20 minutes on the clock in the capital and both sides hadn’t quite found their groove. Martin Boyle was looking a useful outlet for the hosts with his speed on the break whilst Rangers were looking to go forward when they turned over possession.
The home faithful almost had something to cheer about as captain Joe Newell got on the end of Elie Youan’s cross. The winger’s delivery landed in the middle of the penalty area and was met by the head of the arriving midfield, but he didn’t get the desired contact leaving Jack Butland untroubled.
It was Youan again involved as he looked to punish a moment of hesitation from John Souttar. Latching onto the loose ball the number seven used his speed to burst away from the Gers backline, with his shot at the angle testing Butland at his near post.
The best moment from the hosts came in the next phase of play as the had their best spell in the game up to that point. This time it was sub and new signing Kai Andrews involved who looked to turn creator outside the penalty area, he fed Youan who cut in and looked to curl one into the far corner, but Butland was level to it.
Nico Raskin had to divert a dangerous wide free kick from Newell away from danger as both sides persisted in search of a first half breakthrough. It was nip and tuck in Edinburgh with so much on the line for the Gers as they looked to continue their fine domestic form of late.
The biggest moment came with just four minutes until the internal. A long throw from Newell seeking out Boyle looked to be intercepted by Emmanuel Fernandez, the defender missed it allowing the number 10 to race through on goal, he opted up his body at the angle looking to place one into the far corner, but the Gers shot stopper came down and closed down the target to make a vital stop.
After the restart, Rangers looked to be more on the front foot in a first half they struggled to get themselves up the pitch. They almost profited from a mis-hap in the Hibs backline, with Chermiti looking to tee up Skov Olsen, but Jack Iredale was in the right place at the right time to make the interception.
11 minutes into the second period and few clear-cut openings at either end, Danny R?hl turned to his bench as he replaced Gassama with Mikey Moore. Trying to spark some life into the Rangers attacks and test Sallinger between the Hibs posts more frequently.
Hibs looked to pose a threat themselves on the counter-attack and for most of the contest, the opportunity fell to their left winger Youan. A ball through the middle was brought in by Boyle and he acknowledged his run to the left. Souttar stood him up as he looked to cut inside and get a shot away, with the Scotland international making a crucial block to stop the effort heading goalwards.
The theme of the contest continued and the match entered the final 15 minutes in the capital. Openings at both ends were few and far between, the Gers thought they had a breakthrough after Moore’s run and left footed finish past Sallinger, but the assistant on the near side ruled out his near post finish for offside.
After Moore’s shot was blocked at one end, substitute Dane Scarlett had a chance to carry the ball to carry the ball forward on the break. He was sent into a dead end by a combination of Diomande and Souttar before it broke for Nicky Caddenb but his effort was comfortably held by Butland.
HIBS: Sallinger, Hanley (Cadden, 70), Youan (Scarlett, 70), Boyle (Elding, 66), Newell (Molotnikov, 66), Chaiwa (Andrews, 10), Iredale, Obita, Barlaser, Megwa, Bushiri
SUBS: Smith, Levitt, Hoilett, MacIntyre
RANGERS: Butland, Sterling (Aarons, 86), Souttar, Fernandez, Meghoma, Raskin, Chukwuani (Diomande, 69), Skov Olsen (Bajrami, 69), Aasgaard (Miovski, 86), Gassama (Moore, 56), Chermiti
SUBS: Kelly, Djiga, Tavernier, Antman