Report as Rangers cruise to victory at Hibernian with 3-0 win; Philippe Clement's side move five points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic; Ridvan Yilmaz opened scoring before Todd Cantwell hammered in second just before half-time; Cyriel Dessers added a third off the bench
Thursday 25 January 2024 06:07, UK
Rangers closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to five points with an impressive 3-0 win over Hibernian at Easter Road.
Defender Ridvan Yilmaz hammered in the opener for the Light Blues on the half-hour mark before midfielder Todd Cantwell arrowed in an unstoppable shot seconds before the break.
The quality of the goals was at odds with the error-strewn first 45 minutes and striker Cyriel Dessers added a third in the 74th minute soon after climbing off the bench to take his tally for the season to 11.
Hibs spurned some chances but ultimately Philippe Clement's side moved five points behind their Old Firm rivals with one game in hand.
The home side went into the game looking for their first league win in four games and new boy Myziane Maolida, who joined on loan from Hertha Berlin last week, made his debut with fellow new signings Luke Amos and Emiliano Marcondes on the bench.
Nick Montgomery made five changes in total with Kanayo Megwa, Dylan Vente, Dylan Levitt and Jordan Obita also coming in.
The visitors had to contend with the absence of suspended centre-back Connor Goldson, his place taken by John Souttar with number one goalkeeper Jack Butland taking over from Robby McCrorie and a first competitive start for new loan signing Fabio Silva, in for Dessers.
As the smoke still cleared from the pyros displayed by the Gers fans, Hibs attacker Elie Youan's angled-drive from a Levitt pass was blocked by the legs of Butland at his near post for a corner which came to nothing.
Gers winger Rabbi Matondo just failed to get onto the end of a Yilmaz corner which had been flicked on to the back post.
The game drifted through the first half but burst into life when Gers midfielder John Lundstram picked out Yilmaz with a chipped pass and the Turkish left-back lashed a shot high past keeper David Marshall from 12 yards for his first league goal for Rangers.
Hibs had chances to level. Butland saved again at his near post, this time from Jair Tavares and then Youan headed a Joe Newell free-kick inches wide before testing Butland with a drive from the edge of the box which was tipped over for another fruitless corner.
Hibs were well in the game but their task became more difficult when Cantwell, who had been quiet, took a pass from winger Ross McCausland and thundered a drive from the edge of the box past the diving Marshall for his third goal in five matches.
The former Norwich player and Nico Raskin stayed in at the break, replaced by Tom Lawrence and Dujon Sterling but Rangers started the second half in a strong position.
However, in the 52nd minute Maolida should have reduced the deficit from 14 yards after Youan had set him up with a cut-back but his drive was saved by Butland.
Marcondes, who joined Hibs from Bournemouth on Monday, replaced Maolida to make his debut with Jimmy Jeggo on for Newell.
Before long midfielder Luke Amos, signed earlier in the day on an 18-month contract after leaving QPR at the end of last season, also came on to make his debut.
However, it was Gers substitute Dessers, just on for Silva, who trundled the ball over the line from 10 yards despite the efforts of defender Will Fish to clear, and there was time for Lawrence to stab the ball into the net from a Jack cross before being ruled offside.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement: "It is about everybody. To be honest, after a game like this, I don't even remember who scored the goals because for me it is not important who scores. It's scoring as a team and it is the same with Jack [Butland]. He makes the saves because the other guys will get red cards if they make saves with their hands.
"But, for example, John (Souttar) also made a really good save with his chest. It's a team effort. That's what we wanted to create a few months ago. To see a team all the time on the pitch and the guys are doing that now.
"I hope also after several victories they keep on understanding where it is coming from. It is not falling out of the sky. It is about a lot of effort, a lot of solidarity and not having too big an ego to play for yourself.
"So I am going to be really strict on that and to look at the team and making team decisions. I told them after training yesterday [Tuesday] they give me quite a headache for the moment to pick a starting 11. But it is a good thing. I hope they give me a lot of headaches the next couple of months."
Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery: "Myziane (Maolida) has a chance from six yards and it's a top save from the goalkeeper.
"Those are the moments that change games. If that goes in it's 2-1 the crowd lifts and I'm pretty sure we could have got back into the game. We would have been right in the ascendency.
"If you don't take your chances you are going to start chasing the game and you can't do that against a team like Rangers."
Rangers' next Scottish Premiership match is away to St Mirren on Saturday, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 12.30pm.
Hibs are away to Kilmarnock on Saturday at 3pm.
