Abdallah Sima took only 22 minutes to net the first goal of the Belgian’s reign with a terrific finish before Nicolas Raskin scored at the most opportune time on the stroke of the interval to move the Gers into a commanding position.
The Gers didn’t relent in the second half as Sima netted his seventh goal in his last seven appearances to stretch the home side’s advantage, with Cyriel Dessers rounding off the scoring to put the seal on a positive afternoon’s work for Clement’s side.
The Belgian was immediately boosted by the appearance of both Todd Cantwell and Danilo in the matchday squad for the first time since September, with the Light Blues lining up in a 4-4-2 formation as Sam Lammers joined Cyriel Dessers in the forward line.
The Gers wasted precious little time in stamping their superiority on the contest, forcing Paul Hanlon into a last-ditch sliding challenge when James Tavernier collected a loose ball on the right-hand side and fed Lammers through the heart of the visitors’ backline.
Hibs’ approach was certainly playing with fire as they looked to build out from their own 18-yard box, stinging the palms of Jack Butland when Dylan Vente lashed a speculative near post effort from just inside the penalty area.
Clement’s message to his players this week had been to play without fear in possession, which was encapsulated on 14 minutes with a sweeping back-to-front move out of defence. John Souttar’s diagonal pass was on the money as Scott Wright chested into Tavernier’s path. The Gers captain lifted his head and picked out Dessers who had intelligently pulled into space within the vicinity the penalty spot, although the Nigerian’s volley was caught by grateful Marshall.
It was to matter little, however, as Rangers found the back of the net for the first time in the Philippe Clement era just two minutes later. Hibs struggled to deal with the physical presence of Dessers as he looked to trap a long pass forward, allowing Abadallah Sima to feed off the scraps, and when the Senegalese forward spotted a gap in the away side’s backline he burst through with menace and dispatched an unerring finish into the bottom corner.
The Ibrox side were bristling with intent following the opening goal and they were unfortunate not to double their lead just before the half-hour mark; Tavernier feeding a clever pass into Wright whose effort was denied by a reaction stop from Marshall.
The first half appeared to be meandering towards a conclusion before the Gers deservedly doubled their advantage to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb. Sima appeared to be fouled midway inside the Hibs half before the ball broke invitingly to Nicolas Raskin who had eyes only on the goal as he arrowed an unstoppable driven finish into the bottom corner.
Picking up from where they left off in the opening period, Rangers immediately threatened the Hibs backline when Sima powered down the left-hand side and Lammers was tracked all the way in by Hanlon who cleared the Senegalese’s dangerous cross.
The intensity from Rangers without the ball was also troubling Hibs as they continued to patiently bring the ball out of defence. Wright was first to pounce on a loose pass from Jimmy Jeggo in midfield, haring into space down the right before pulling the ball across to Dessers whose finish lacked the requisite purchase.
Clement’s side were bemoaning their misfortunate in the attacking third when they passed up a glorious opportunity to add a third goal of the afternoon when Lammers cracked the post from close range after a terrific endeavour from Dessers to pinch the ball inside the Hibs penalty area.
Ibrox then serenaded the return of Cantwell three minutes shy of the hour-mark when the Englishman replaced Wright who was unable to continue.
And the game was put beyond doubt moments later as Sima continued his fine goalscoring form by finding the net for the second time in the contest. Indeed, Dessers was left with his head in his hands as he showed tremendous composure to round Marshall after latching onto Lammers’ neat slide rule pass but, when Hanlon produced a heroic block on the goalline to deny the Nigerian, Sima reacted first in the danger area to control the ball and smash the rebound into the top corner.
Cantwell went close to marking his return to fitness with a goal, shimmying dangerously on the edge of the penalty area before his left-footed effort was collected by Marshall.
Hibs fluffed the chance to pull a goal back with 12 minutes remaining when Jair Tavares met a cross in space at the far post but the attacker diverted his volley off target.
The Light Blues then rounded out the scoreline as Dessers enjoyed the moment that he deserved for his endeavour in the game. Cantwell was the architect as the midfielder drove menacingly infield, reversing a delicious pass into the forward who gave Marshall the eyes and stroked a neat finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.
Clement and his charges will now shift their attention to European action as the Gers make the trip to the Czech Republic to face Sparta Prague on Thursday evening.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic (Ridvan, 10), Raskin, Lundstram, Lammers (McCausland, 79), Wright (Cantwell, 57), Sima, Dessers (Danilo, 79)
Subs not used: McCrorie, Jack, Roofe, Davies, Balogun
HIBERNIAN: Marshall, Miller (Whittaker, 67), Fish, Hanlon (Bushiri, 67), Obita, Newell, Jeggo (Levitt, 59), Boyle, Youan, Le Fondre (Jair, 67), Vente (Doidge, 72)
Subs not used: Wollacott, Stevenson, Delferriere, Campbell
REFEREE: Don Robertson