RANGERS stormed to a stunning win over Hibernian at Easter Road as Michael Beale maintained his unbeaten Premiership run as boss.
A Connor Goldson own goal had Lee Johnson’s side ahead inside ten minutes but James Tavernier levelled from the penalty spot and Rangers never looked back. Antonio Colak netted twice and Fashion Sakala was also on target.
It was an emotional night for the Leith faithful as Hibernian remembered former chairman Ronald Gordon. The win the hosts wanted in his memory never looked likely, though, as Rangers eased to a commanding success.
THE BEST OF THE LOT FOR BEALE
Talk of being performance happy and result happy permeated the first weeks of Beale’s tenure as the Englishman sought to re-energise Rangers and start to rebuild confidence and momentum.
There were times early on when it was a bit of slog. The wins kept coming but the manner in which they were achieved was not exactly easy on the eye in spells as matches were taken care of with substance rather than style.
The first 45 minutes against Kilmarnock at the weekend were much more like it but Rangers were unfathomably poor after the break and there was certainly room for improvement ahead of what was a very different challenge in Leith.
It was one that Rangers passed with flying colours. This was the best so far for Beale, the first complete performance, as his side were controlled and ruthless to record a fine victory.
These three points will ultimately prove futile in terms of the Premiership title race but it was a significant night nonetheless as the bar was raised once again and the unbeaten run was extended.
The scoreline certainly didn’t flatter Rangers. If anything, Hibernian were lucky this wasn’t even more painful as a succession of chances were spurned by the Light Blues.
GORDON REMEMBERED
The first home fixture since the passing of Gordon was always going to be a highly-charged affair. It was an occasion for Hibernian to pay tribute to their former chairman following his death, aged just 68, from cancer last month.
The news of Gordon’s death sent shockwaves around Scottish football. Those feelings were naturally even more profound in the green and white half of Edinburgh that Gordon had made his home from home.
Hibernian had revealed their plans to mark Gordon’s memory in earlier this week and the home crowd did the American proud as a banner proclaiming ‘While our chief still shines on Leith’ was unfurled ahead of a rousing rendition of Sunshine on Leith. A video tribute was also played on the screens in the corner of the ground and a round of applause followed on 68 minutes.
Beale had appealed for the Rangers support to show their respects in the proper manner. Such a call should never have been needed but it shamefully wasn’t taken on board by a minority and another banner - which read ‘Up to your knees in embarrassment’ - was displayed in the corner by the home fans.
AWAY FORM BODES WELL
Rangers arrived at Easter Road with a fine record on the road and wins at Aberdeen, Dundee United, Kilmarnock, Hearts and Livingston have been notable achievements of the Beale era so far. All of those venues have proven to be notoriously difficult for Rangers in recent seasons and being able to emerge from that run with maximum points is no mean feat for a side that were in such low confidence before Beale’s arrival.
It hasn’t always been pretty on the road, but it has been effective and the win at Tynecastle stood out as the pick of the lot. It was arguably going to take an even more accomplished showing to emerge victorious here given the fine form that Johnson’s side were in heading into this one and Rangers delivered when it was needed.
It was a night that could have been tricky for Rangers but they handled it in terrific fashion and were well worthy of their victory. The only complaint was that they didn’t win by more.
Being able to come to places like this and play with such flair certainly bodes well for Beale and there was a lot to be encouraged about defensively as well as Goldson and Ben Davies continue to go from strength to strength as a partnership.
COLAK REPAYS THE FAITH
Beale spoke enthusiastically about Colak’s performance in the aftermath of the win over Kilmarnock and was full of praise for the Croatian as he produced a fine all-round showing that was only missing a goal at Ibrox. It was no surprise, then, to see him start here as Beale kept faith with the same team across the park.
Colak has rarely let his manager – be in Beale or predecessor Giovanni van Bronckhorst – down during his first term in Scottish football. He is a likeable presence off the park and has shown his nous in front of goal by playing a key role while there have been huge questions over the form and fitness of Alfredo Morelos.
This fixture is usually one that seems tailor-made for the Colombian. His recent efforts haven’t merited a start, though, and Beale’s decision to go with Colak paid dividends.
He could, and perhaps should, have scored before he showed his instinct to make a smart run across the face of goal and had the composure to glance a Sakala cross beyond David Marshall and give Rangers the lead at the break. His second was a poacher’s finish as Hibs failed to clear their lines and Colak was set up by Zambian forward partner.
Colak was the focal point of the attack as Sakala caused problems with his pace and Ryan Kent – who himself missed a plethora of chances – popped up across the forward line. It was a trio that was certainly effective and the individual and collective showings were a real positive for Beale.
HIBS GET PUNISHED FOR DODGY DEFENCE
It was all going so well for Johnson after ten minutes. His side had started brightly and Goldson’s own goal, as he converted into his own net after trying to block a Matthew Hoppe cross, had the home crowd believing a win was on the cards.
The hosts couldn’t live with Rangers in the remainder of the game, though. Only a goal separated them at the break, but Beale’s side really should have been out of sight as they exploited the left channel time after time.
Sakala and Borna Barisic had the freedom of the flank and Johnson was fortunate that Rangers didn’t have the quality to make the most of the chances they carved out. Kent had to score from six yards and was later denied by Marshall, while Colak scooped an effort over and Barisic was also thwarted by the Hibs keeper.
Marshall was culpable for the third goal as a wayward pass allowed Ryan Jack to set up Sakala and Hibs were punished once again when Colak doubled his tally from close range. They were moments that summed up a decidedly dodgy defensive display and the hosts could have no complaints about being on the wrong end of the result.
