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The feel good factor was back at Rangers with the activity in the transfer market this week. Vladimir Weiss and Niko Jelavic are two very exciting signings and the chance to see one of them in action today was mouth-watering.
Walter denied us the chance though as the youngster was to start on the bench. The side was strengthened from last week though as Davis returned to the engine room with Naismith going back out to the right and Whittaker dropping back into his more natural defensive role.
The midweek elation was about to quickly disappear in watching the first half as neither team impressed and more so Rangers how just couldn’t get a grip in the game. Stringing passes together was just too hard, putting in a tackle was a no go and carving out a chance was impossible to imagine. In fact had it not been for two incidents, you’d have been forgiven for actually thinking that the game had still to start.
The first I’m loathe to mention as Riordan slid right into McGregor, there was a bit of afters and McGregor went down holding his head. A rather over reaction and one that will probably see further discipline down the line.
The second however was one that still bemuses me now. A soft challenge, that was no more than a free kick, was sent out of all proportion by a ball whacked at Lafferty, a bit of pushing and shoving and an overzealous Referee. A quick talking too and a free kick would have sorted the whole mess out but the Ref wanted to make a name for himself and decide the game would be better with ten a side.
As it went, he might not have been too far wrong as the second half became the spectacle that we all thought the first half should have been. It all kicked into life as Hibs had two early chances and had it not been for the dogged determination of Bougherra with a last ditched tackle Rangers would have ben fighting an uphill battle.
As it was it inspired Rangers into action and when Beattie latched onto a slack save, he had the wit to look up and see Miller coming charging into the box. The pass was perfect and Miller hammered home his first.
With the goal came Rangers first change and a chance for the fans to get their first glimpse of someone with an amazing future ahead of him. Vladimir Weiss took the field and immediately showed his class as he tore into a Hibs side that just couldn’t handle him. Tricks, flicks and pace left them bemused and when he played a neat one two with Davis, his sublime first touch and exceptional second put in Miller for his second.
Rangers could have had a third when a Weiss corner was met flushly by Edu who saw his header well saved. The third was on its way though and Davis set Miller in for his hat trick and the match ball.
A game of two halves was no more apt than today but the signs for the future were the big part and the performance in particular of a certain young Slovakian.
Player Ratings
McGregor: - 6 In virginal white today but it didn’t quite fit. Embarrassing reaction to Riordan. Footballing wise he made some good saves and should really stick to what he’s good at.
Whittaker: - 4 Never got into the game going forward and looked shaky at the back. Started slowly last season and needs to step up a gear this.
Bougherra: - 6 Not his usual composed self on the ball today but made on exceptional challenge to keep Rangers in the game.
Weir: - 5 Will be happy with the clean sheet with a decent display at the back. Punted too many balls into no-man’s land when he had possession.
Papac: - 4 Very slack today and like Whittaker, needs to up his game. Ten yard passes are just too hard it seems.
Naismith: - 7 Put everything into the game and was one of the few players that looked like a threat, especially in the first half.
Davis: - 5 You’d be forgiven for thinking that he hadn’t started he game as the game passed him by. Grew into things more in the second and started to put some clinical passes together. None more so than for Millers third.
Edu: - 5 Like Davis, he was passed by in midfield and looked like he was chasing shadows. Became more prominent when we got into the ascendancy.
Lafferty: - 3 Very unlucky to be sent off for a nothing tackle. In saying that from what he’d done up until that point it wasn’t the biggest loss.
Beattie: - 4 Struggled with the pace of the game and still looks a handful of games away from being match fit. Was sharp enough to pounce to set up Miler’s first though.
Miller: - 9 When given the chances he is proving he can score the goals. Puts in the work to go with it and Walter will have a headache when all his frontline choices re fit and ready.
Subs:-
Weiss: - 7 A terrific cameo debut as he ran Hibs ragged. His quality was there for everyone to see.
Rangers: - McGregor, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra, Edu, Davis, Miller, Lafferty, Naismith, Beattie (Weiss 66).
Substitutes: - Alexander, Broadfoot, McMillan, Wylde, Weiss, Little, Hutton.
Goals: - Miller 64, 70, 92.
Booked: - McGregor, Bougherra
Off: - Lafferty
Hibernian: - Mark Brown, Hart (Rankin 69), Hogg, Hanlon (Nish 68), Bamba, De Graaf, McBride, David Wotherspoon, Miller, Riordan (Danny Galbraith 56), Stokes.
Substitutes: - Smith, Thicot, Stephens, Rankin, Stevenson, Danny Galbraith, Nish.
Booked:- Miller, Riordan
Off:- McBride
Att:- Brines
Ref:- 17,145
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