Match ends, Rangers 1, Hibernian 3.
Rangers 1-3 Hibernian
By Richard Wilson
BBC Scotland at Ibrox
- From the section Football
- Hibs' first away league win of season
- Rangers lose nine-game unbeaten run
- Hibs move up to fifth in Scottish Championship
- Rangers stay second, six points behind Hearts
Struggling Hibernian stunned title hopefuls Rangers as three goals in 14 first-half minutes earned the Edinburgh side a surprise win at Ibrox.
Hibs travelled to Glasgow second-bottom in the Championship but dismissed concerns about their early-season form.
Two goals from Jason Cummings and another by David Gray put the visitors in control by half-time.
And Nicky Law's reply early in the second half was no more than a consolation for Rangers.
Hibs were able to defend their lead and see the game out to move up to fifth in the league and leave Rangers in second, six points behind leaders Hearts.
They first had to hold their nerve. Rangers began the match with a sense of purpose and urgency, applying pressure high up the field, but that approach did not last long.
Rangers were reduced to delivering long, diagonal crosses because they were unable to turn the Hibs defence and the play lacked variety.
Having composed themselves, Hibs set about executing their game plan as Rangers lost their way.
There ought to have been little danger when Hibs goalkeeper Mark Oxley sent a long kick upfield, but Arnold Peralta was out of position and panicked as the ball dropped towards him.
As the midfielder flapped at the ball, Cummings nipped in to steal the ball, surged into the penalty area and then his shot had enough power to run into the net despite bouncing off Steve Simonsen's body as the goalkeeper dived to try to make a save.
Both Hibs wing-backs were industrious enough to ensure that they were vital figures for the visitors and they combined for the second goal.
Lewis Stevenson's cross from the left was converted at the back post by Gray, who muscled in front of Stevie Smith.
Hibs have seemed like a team in transition this season, but the disarray was transferred to their opponents on this occasion.
When Rangers' Bilel Mohsni over-hit a pass and sent the ball out of play, the home fans yelled in exasperation. The defender's response was to shout back at them.
He was even more animated towards the home crowd when he left the field at half-time and had to be led up the tunnel by his team-mates.
By that stage, Rangers might have felt that the cause was lost. Dominique Malonga took full advantage of the gap between the home side's midfield and defence by gathering the ball in behind Ian Black, before working it out to Stevenson, whose cross was converted by Cummings.
Having raised their tempo, Rangers managed a brief renaissance when Law swept a first-time half-volley into the top corner of the net after the ball was cleared from a corner kick.
The home side became busy and committed, but Hibs were able to absorb the worst of the pressure.
There might even have been a more emphatic scoreline if Jordan Forster had not headed wide from a corner kick and Alex Harris had been more decisive with his finish after racing beyond the Rangers defenders on a counter-attack.
Line-ups
Rangers
- 31Simonsen
- 3Mohsni
- 24McGregorBooked at 62mins
- 6McCulloch
- 5Wallace
- 2SmithSubstituted forTempletonat 70'minutes
- 7Law
- 17PeraltaSubstituted forAirdat 45'minutes
- 8BlackBooked at 37mins
- 15Boyd
- 22ShielsSubstituted forDalyat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Aird
- 9Daly
- 11Templeton
- 20Hutton
- 23Foster
- 25Robinson
- 26Zaliukas
Hibernian
- 1Oxley
- 6Forster
- 5Fontaine
- 4Hanlon
- 8Robertson
- 2GraySubstituted forBoothat 45'minutesBooked at 66mins
- 20Allan
- 10CraigBooked at 86mins
- 16Stevenson
- 24Malonga
- 35CummingsBooked at 19minsSubstituted forHarrisat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Harris
- 11Stanton
- 14Heffernan
- 19Handling
- 22Booth
- 30Kennedy
- 31Perntreou
- Referee:
- Calum Murray
- Attendance:
- 31,619
Match Stats
Home TeamRangersAway TeamHibernian
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home8
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rangers 1, Hibernian 3.
Attempt missed. Lee Wallace (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt missed. Dominique Malonga (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Foul by Kris Boyd (Rangers).
Scott Robertson (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Alex Harris (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt saved. Darren McGregor (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jordan Forster.
Attempt blocked. Ian Black (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Jon Daly (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt saved. Alex Harris (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Liam Craig (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card.
Nicky Law (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jordan Forster (Hibernian).
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Alex Harris replaces Jason Cummings.
Foul by Jon Daly (Rangers).
Mark Oxley (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Paul Hanlon.
Foul by Jon Daly (Rangers).
Jordan Forster (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Lee Wallace (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Bilel Mohsni (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Liam Fontaine.
Attempt blocked. Fraser Aird (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Ian Black (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Callum Booth (Hibernian).
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Lewis Stevenson.
Attempt saved. Callum Booth (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
David Templeton (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian).
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. David Templeton replaces Steven Smith.
Ian Black (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Liam Craig (Hibernian).
Booking
Callum Booth (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card.
Darren McGregor (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Callum Booth (Hibernian).
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Jon Daly replaces Dean Shiels.
Attempt blocked. Fraser Aird (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Jordan Forster (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation.