Hibs 3-3 Rangers: Rocky Bushiri's late header rescues draw in 'bonkers' six-goal thriller
Report as Rangers draw 3-3 at Hibs; Hamza Igamane netted an early double; Martin Boyle pulled a goal back before half-time; Boyle levelled from the penalty spot after Ianis Hagi brought down Josh Campbell; Igamane completed his hat-trick but Rocky Bushiri rescued a point for Hibs
Sunday 5 January 2025 21:06, UK
Rangers failed to build on their impressive Old Firm win as Hibs fought back to rescue a draw and extend their unbeaten Premiership run.
It was the perfect start for Philippe Clement's side as Hamza Igamane fired them ahead inside the opening four minutes before heading in a powerful second as they dominated the early stages.
Hibs began to find some rhythm and Martin Boyle swept the ball into the net from the edge of the box before levelling from the penalty spot after Josh Campbell was hauled down by Ianis Hagi.
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In what Sky Sports' Chris Sutton described as a "bonkers game," Igamane thought he had recused the when he sent Vaclav Cerny's low shot into the net to complete his hat-trick.
But there was another twice as Rocky Bushiri headed Hibs back level with both sides then missing late chances to take all three points.
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David Gray's side are now unbeaten in six while Rangers remain second, 10 points behind Celtic.
Inconsistency costs Rangers again
Despite the euphoria of their Old Firm derby success at Ibrox, Rangers have now dropped points in each of their last three away matches, blowing the chance to put genuine pressure on their city rivals at the top of the Premiership.
Hibs made one change to the side that started Thursday's 1-1 draw at St Johnstone as Dwight Gayle replaced Junior Hoilett in attack, with captain Joe Newell and forward Elie Youan again missing out through injury.
The visitors were unchanged from the team that started the derby as goalkeeper Liam Kelly again deputised in place of Jack Butland, who continues to recover after being hospitalised with internal bleeding in his leg.
Hibs made a nervy start and were punished for their slackness in the fourth minute when Igamane slotted home Ianis Hagi's well-weighted cutback from the left after Bushiri had got himself in a tangle while trying to deal with a ball in behind for Igamane.
Bushiri made a better fist of dealing with Rangers' next opportunity when he stood firm to deflect Nedim Bajrami's effort behind after the Albanian cut in menacingly from the left.
The hosts were struggling to contain the visitors early on and Hyeokkyu Kwon did just enough to divert Igamane's shot behind after Mohamed Diomande teed up the Moroccan just outside the six-yard box.
Bajrami and Vaclav Cerny saw powerful angled efforts pushed out for corners by Jordan Smith in quick succession before the Ibrox side's pressure brought a second goal in the 19th minute. Bajrami's cross from the left picked out the unmarked Igamane and the Moroccan's header from seven yards out soared beyond Smith, who got a hand to the effort but was unable to keep it out.
At that point, it looked like Rangers were set to cruise to victory as Hibs - in a state of mild disarray - seemed unable to get a foothold.
But the hosts pulled one back in the 32nd minute when Jack Iredale's free-kick into the box was helped into the danger area by Lewis Miller and Josh Campbell and Bushiri cleverly laid the ball off into the path of Boyle, who drilled home a low strike from 12 yards out.
Remarkably, the scores were level on the hour when Campbell was fouled by Hagi as he tried to burst on to a Gayle pass, and Boyle made no mistake.
Hibs suddenly had their tails up and looked the likelier side to take the lead, with Miller seeing a ferocious shot pushed out by Kelly before the Australian defender headed against the inside of the post shortly afterwards.
Gers boss Philippe Clement - clearly worried by what he was seeing - made a triple change in the 70th minute as Hagi, Bajrami and the injured Dujon Sterling were replaced by Danilo, Oscar Cortes and Leon King.
Four minutes later, the visitors got themselves back in front when Igamane fired home from Cerny's cutback.
However, Bushiri - as he had done when scoring a last-gasp equaliser in a 3-3 draw at home to Aberdeen in November - had the final say as he headed home Nicky Cadden's corner.
Gray: We got what we deserved
Hibernian head coach David Gray speaking to Sky Sports:
"Second-half performance was outstanding in terms of the effort, the desire, the character shown from everyone involved right to the very end.
"To come from 2-0 down, to get back to 2-2, to then create the best chances in the game at that point in terms of hitting the post, Galey's chance, then to be pegged back again.
"To show that desire, character, to come back to at least get what I thought we deserved for a second-half performance, by the way, because I thought the game could have very easily been away from us from the way we started.
"Showed real character in the second half and I think we got what we deserved at least."
Clement's penalty frustration
Rangers manager Philippe Clement on Sky Sports:
"The result is frustrating, we played a very good first half dominating, creating the chances, playing really good football.
"Second half we went down in our tempo, creating less, Hibs came more, they pushed more in that way.
"I'm very disappointed also about conceding a penalty like that and not about the way, but about the decision. It's just a collision of two players with their hips against each other.
"You cannot say that the one makes a fall and the other one not a fall in that moment. It's just a collision of two players and Ianis was even the one a little bit in front maybe, and the other player, his legs go around him.
"So it's a game-decisive moment, and it's really sore to have that again against you."
