Hibernian 1 – 1 Rangers

NACHO Novo rescued a point for Rangers against Hibernian in controversial circumstances as the Clydesdale Bank PremierLeague title race took another dramatic turn.

The Ibrox side were furious an earlier effort from the Spaniard was not allowed to stand after Derek Riordan had given the home side the lead.

The 1-1 draw saw Rangers squander the opportunity to move clear of Celtic at the summit, with goal difference all that separates the Old Firm rivals heading into the final two games of the SPL season.

Hibs, meanwhile, were bolstered by being able to welcome back Rob Jones, Chris Hogg and Sol Bamba, who all missed the Edinburgh derby win over Hearts through suspension.

Rangers had an early opportunity to put Hibs under pressure when Kris Boyd was fouled by Ross Chisholm, earning the Ibrox side a free-kick.
Steven Davis – scorer of the winner against Celtic on Saturday – stepped up for the set-piece but drove narrowly wide of target from 30 yards.

Rangers had another decent chance when Riordan lost possession to Pedro Mendes, who teed up the shot for Boyd but the striker was denied by a timely block from Jones.

Hibernian v Rangers 13 05 09

Venue: Easter Road Date: Wednesday 13 May Kick-off time: 1945 BST
Coverage: Setanta Sports, BBC Radio Scotland, Radio(Non UK), Rangers Live(Non UK), List of Satellites, Streams.

Hibernian quartet Rob Jones, Chris Hogg, Colin Nish and Sol Bamba all return from suspension.

Goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski and Denes Rosa are out injured by striker Jonatan Johansson is expected to recover from a knock.
Defenders Sasa Papac and Kirk Broadfoot remain injured for Rangers along with midfielder Barry Ferguson.

Maurice Edu is expected to be fit despite missing training earlier in the week with a knee problem.

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Hibernian (from): Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Murray, Rankin, Bamba, Chisholm, Stevenson, Fletcher, Riordan, McNeil, Thicot, Hanlon, Keenan, Nish, O’Brien, McCormack

Rangers (from): Alexander, Dailly, Bougherra, Weir, Whittaker, Davis, Mendes, Edu, S Smith, Lafferty, Boyd, McCulloch, Miller, McGregor, Novo, Velicka, Fleck, Wilson.

Rangers 3 v 0 St Mirren 25 04 09

Rangers progressed to the final of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable win over St Mirren.

Andrius Velicka gave the holders a second-minute lead with a close-range finish past goalkeeper Mark Howard.

Saints threatened an equaliser through Steven Thomson’s strike but keeper Neil Alexander saved well.

Kris Boyd’s 100th Rangers goal stretched the Ibrox club’s lead in the 66th minute and Kenny Miller’s volley four minutes later sealed victory.

Falkirk or Dunfermline await Rangers in the final, which takes place on 30 May.

Rangers went in front with their first serious advance at a sun-drenched Hampden as Steven Davis mounted an attack down the inside-right channel.

The Northern Ireland midfielder’s pass found Boyd, whose shot was deflected into the path of Velicka and the Lithuanian striker slid in to fire high into the net for his third goal in as many games.

Pedro Mendes came close to extending Rangers’ lead in the 11th minute when his swerving shot with the outside of the right foot was tipped wide by Howard.

Rangers v St Mirren 25 04 09

Venue: Hampden Park Date: Saturday 25 April Kick-off: 1215 BST
Coverage: Sky Digital, BBC Radio Scotland, Radio(Non UK), Rangers Live(Non UK), List of Satellites, Streams.

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Rangers captain Barry Ferguson misses the Scottish Cup semi-final after suffering a calf injury last week.

 

Defender Sasa Papac is suspended and Lee McCulloch, Kirk Broadfoot, Kyle Lafferty and Kevin Thomson are out.

St Mirren striker Billy Mehmet will be given a late fitness test as he struggles with a hamstring injury.

John Potter returns from a ban but Steven Robb, Stephen O’Donnell, Franco Miranda, Chris Smith and Tom Brighton all miss out for the clash at Hampden.

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Rangers (from): Alexander, Whittaker, Weir, Bougherra, Naismith, Davis, Edu, Mendes, Boyd, Velicka, Novo, McGregor, Miller, Aaron, Fleck, Wilson, S Smith, Dailly.

 

St Mirren (from): Howard, Ross, Camara, Cuthbert, Potter, Haining, McGinn, Thomson, Dorman, Murray, Dargo, Mason, Brady, Hamilton, Wyness, Barron, McAusland, Burns, Mathers, Mehmet.

Hibernian 2 v 3 Rangers

Andrius Velicka was on target as Rangers powered past Hibernian to keep their title challenge on track at a sun-kissed Easter Road. 

Rangers took the lead within two minutes in impressive style through Steven Whittaker’s stunning volley.

Hibs deservedly equalised through Steven Fletcher’s header and Velicka’s drive nudged Rangers in front again.

Maurice Edu grabbed a third before John Rankin reduced the deficit with a rasping drive, but Rangers held on.

Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were glaring omissions from the Rangers squad before the game, despite having served their two-match club suspension for a breach of discipline while on Scotland duty.

Nevertheless, the duo’s absence failed to knock the visitors off their stride and they got off to a dream start within two minutes.

Chris Hogg’s clearing header landed in front of Whittaker outside the box and he controlled it with his thigh before thundering a left foot volley past a bewildered-looking Grzegorz Szamotulski that struck the underside of the bar on its way into the net.

Hibs midfielder Derek Riordan flashed a right foot shot just wide of the post in the seventh minute as the hosts looked to recover from the shock of conceding that early goal.

Rangers should have doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Maurice Edu failed to get his head on the end of Steven Smith’s teasing free-kick.

Steven Fletcher equalised for Hibs with a glancing header

Hibs settled into their passing game, but were finding it difficult to put keeper Neil Alexander under pressure as both sides attacked relentlessly.

Fletcher got a deserve equaliser after 33 minutes when he rose unchallenged in the box to glance Stevenson’s cross into the bottom left hand corner of Alexander’s goal.

Former Rangers striker Jonathan Johansson, on for the injured Colin Nish, almost gave Hibs the lead on the stroke of half-time, but Alexander gathered his shot at the second attempt.

Rangers took the lead after 53 minutes with a goal out of nothing.

Velicka controlled Whittaker’s long pass with his chest and sent a low vicious shot inside Szamotulski’s near post, with the Pole slow to react.

Boyd, chasing his 100th goal in Rangers goal, shot weakly at Szamotulski inside the six-yard box five minutes later when it looked easier to score.

Rangers’ second goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of the previously free-flowing Hibs as they struggled to get Fletcher and Riordan into the game again.

Alexander denied Riordan with a wonderful save with 22 minutes remaining as he palmed away the midfielder’s low drive from inside the box after superb set-up play by Denes Rosa.

Rangers substitute Kenny Miller was denied by Szamotulski moments after coming on and Edu sealed the points with a close-range finish after Hibs failed to clear at the third time of asking.

Rankin ensured a nervy end to the game when he arrowed a superb 20-yard shot beyond Alexander, but Rangers held on to reduce the gap on leaders Celtic to a single point.

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Hibernian: Szamotulski, van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Stevenson, Rosa, Bamba, Rankin, Riordan, Nish, Fletcher. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Murray, O’Brien, Chisholm, McCormack, Thicot, Johansson.

Rangers: Alexander, Whittaker, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Davis, Edu, Mendes, Steven Smith, Boyd, Velicka. Subs: Graeme Smith, Novo, Miller, Dailly, Niguez, Fleck, Little. 

Referee: S Conroy