Hibs player ratings vs Rangers as two Easter Road targets watch hosts claim gutsy point amid injury blows
Hibs player ratings vs Rangers as two Easter Road targets watch hosts claim gutsy point amid injury blows.
Here’s how we ranked Hibs’ players for their Premiership match against Rangers. Hibs showed their tough side against Rangers, drawing 0-0 in their most recent Premiership meeting.
The Ibrox side applied the most forward pressure early on, but Joe Newell missed a clear header in the greatest chance of the first half, while Elie Youan created two more threatening opportunities.
Martin Boyle then wasted a one-on-one opportunity as Hibs finished the first half on top, while transfer targets Ante Suto and Felix Passlack watched from the seats, amid new injury fears for Miguel Chaiwa and Grant Hanley.
Rangers’ Mikey Moore scored, but the goal was judged offside, and the points were shared, leaving Hibs fourth in the table.Rangers are joint second.
This Easter Road team suddenly looked very different from what head coach David Gray’s chosen XI would have been just a month ago.
Josh Mulligan and Jamie McGrath were both missing in midfield, and Kieron Bowie’s big money transfer to Hellas Verona on Friday left a hole up front, albeit with new additions in attack in Owen Elding and Dane Scarlett, who were kitted out for debuts off the bench.
Midfielder Kai Andrews had also been signed on loan from Coventry City prior to this, and he arrived just in time, as Chaiwa was forced out with an injury after less than 10 minutes.
On top of that, Hibs started nervously as Rangers had the best of them down their right side, creating a corner, where they have been so efficient recently under new set-piece coach Scott Fry, and watching as a threatening cross bobbled narrowly over the bar.
They continued to pour men forward, but the hosts took advantage of counter-attacks, with Youan teeing a wonderful cross for skipper Newell to head in acres of space, but he was unable to test custodian Jack Butland.
This began their best spell of the game, and Youan was at the center of it all.
First, he got free from the Rangers defenders, forcing Butland into a smart save, then good play by Andrews allowed the striker to bend a curler going for the top corner, which the Rangers custodian did well to claw behind for a corner.
They had a lethargic start, but Hibs had arrived and put Rangers on the back foot, with Boyle put clean through with Butland, who was denied again when he should have scored.
It was almost entirely Hibees during the second part of the first half, and they would have regretted not going into the tunnel with a reward to show for it.
Recent losses to Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk had resulted in bad performances, but they seemed like a distant memory after the first 45 minutes.
There appeared to be only one winner, and Rangers were reduced to blasting random balls in the direction of an onslaught that did not look promising.
Elding and Scarlett made their debuts as the story of the walking wounded continued, with centre-back Hanley the latest to be injured.
It was almost entirely Hibees during the second part of the first half, and they would have regretted not going into the tunnel with a reward to show for it.
Recent losses to Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk had resulted in bad performances, but they seemed like a distant memory after the first 45 minutes.
There appeared to be only one winner, and Rangers were reduced to blasting random balls in the direction of an onslaught that did not look promising. Elding and Scarlett made their debuts as the story of the walking wounded continued, with centre-back Hanley the latest to be injured.
They needed to stay focused, and Moore’s offside strike served as a warning shot, the visitors’ first really dangerous attack since early on.
By the time the final phases arrived, a stalemate had been confirmed, with Hibs’ focus shifting to a midweek encounter with Dundee United and Monday’s deadline day.
The inclusion of Bochum right-back Passlack and Slaven Belupo forward Suto on Sunday indicates that it will not be a quiet one, and that they will have discovered a side eager to deal without key players. Here’s how we graded Hibernian players vs Rangers.
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1. Raphael Sallinger – 6/10
Not overly tested with such a strong defence ahead of him. Distribution fine.
2. Kanayo Megwa – 8/10
Difficult start, but recovered well to end the Gassama threat. Won some difficult duels and did quite well against a new and tricky Moore.In a senior jersey, you’re beginning to mature.SNS Group
3. Rocky Bushiri – 8/10
A couple of powerful headers and a nice double teaming act against Chermiti. Moved into the midst of the back three, and a lung-busting sprint to stop Chermiti’s advance summed up the entire action, followed by a big block in stoppage time.
4. Grant Hanley – 7/10
Coped well with Gassama’s physicality and performed admirably when the Rangers attempted to put runs behind him. Hibs will hope his blow isn’t too severe, as he demonstrated why he’s such an experienced campaigner here.
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