FOR years now the impression has lingered that there is a brittle fragility about Hibernian that presents itself at the worst possible times. It is an opinion formed over several cup final appearances, relegation scraps, play-off ties and other significant matches when they have either failed to compete or, worse, capitulated from a promising position. At Easter Road on Sunday afternoon, they answered that criticism in stirring fashion. This may well be a team with a bit of fight in them after all.
Rangers have tormented Hibs at various points this year but this was the day for Alan Stubbs and his players to bite back. In doling out a first league defeat of the season to Mark Warburton’s side, Hibs shaved the lead at the top of the SPFL Championship to five points and sent out the loudest message yet that the pursuit of the title will be no formality for Rangers.
It was the nature of the victory that most impressed. Having garnered a first-half lead courtesy of an excellent Jason Cummings strike, Hibs found themselves pegged back by a Rangers equaliser and having to endure some sustained pressure. The Hibs of old may have collapsed and conceded a second goal – and they enjoyed some good luck with Rangers efforts pinging against post and crossbar – but they held firm on this occasion, before going on to fashion a winner themselves. When Martyn Waghorn blazed a late Rangers chance high over the crossbar, Hibs nerves were finally calmed. There would be no demoralising sting in the tail this time as the players and Stubbs celebrated in front of a jubilant home support.
Hibs were led by a strong performance from John McGinn whose insistence on taking every free kick and corner made you begin to wonder if it was his baw and he would be going home with it if he didn’t get his own way. When the midfielder wasn’t directing set-plays, he was to be found thundering bravely into challenges, tracking back diligently, or trying to set up attacks. It was exhausting just watching him. Hibs have recruited a player they can hang their hat on. “Outstanding,” said Stubbs of his performance. “He is a bit of a huddie to be honest but he has been our main asset this season,” joked Cummings who, surprisingly, was given the man of the match award ahead of his team-mate.
It was not a surprise, then, that McGinn was involved – twice – in what proved to be the winning goal after 72 minutes. His initial free kick on goal looked ambitious from distance but Wes Foderingham elected not to take any chances by tipping it over the top. From the corner, again taking by the former St Mirren player, Foderingham failed to collect ahead of Dominic Ball allowing Paul Hanlon free rein to head Hibs into the lead. Just a week after his manager had touted him as a future England cap, it looked a glaring and costly error from the goalkeeper.
Rangers came to rue that lapse in concentration but manager Mark Warburton afterwards did not wear the look of a man fearing his world was set to cave in all around him. In truth, this was a captivating, scintillating contest between two committed teams, and on another day, Rangers could have won it. That they didn’t came down largely to too many missed second-half chances and Hibs’ determination not to be steamrollered as has happened too often for them in the past.
Rangers also felt they should have had an early penalty. Lewis Stevenson didn’t get anything on the ball as he ushered Jason Holt out of the penalty box, introducing the former Hearts player to the turf with the clumsiest of challenges. Referee John Beaton seemed to hesitate just temporarily before waving play on. Rangers barely entered the Hibs penalty box for the remainder of the half, with a James Tavernier effort expertly parried by Mark Oxley the sum of their efforts.
Instead, the home side were the dominant side and perhaps should have had more than just one goal to their name by the time the teams disappeared up the tunnel. But what a goal it was. David Gray’s throw-in found Cummings loitering outside the Rangers penalty area and with Danny Wilson – restored to the team as part of a switch to a three-man defence – for close company. Cummings, though, was able to roll Wilson easily before curling a terrific effort into the far corner. With less than 10 minutes played, Hibs were in the ascendancy but could not capitalise further before half-time.
There was a feeling that Darren McGregor, playing against Rangers for the first time since being released by Warburton in the summer, would have some kind of influence here and it arrived in the most agonising of circumstances early in the second half. As Rangers poured forward – demonstrating greater urgency than they had for the entirety of the first half – the ball was worked wide to the unmarked Lee Wallace. The full-back was still some 25 yards from goal but had a dunt anyway, the ball striking the unfortunate McGregor on the way through, flummoxing Oxley and landing in the net. Two minutes after the re-start and Rangers had their breakthrough. To McGregor’s no doubt relief, however, it would not prove to be the decisive action of the encounter.
Rangers, though, sensed the tide was turning. Waghorn had a shot saved, with Wallace directing the loose ball on to the crossbar. Substitute Nathan Oduwa then struck a post. But they could not score again. For once, luck was on Hibs’ side. They will argue it was long overdue.
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