This is how it feels (The Rangers 08 03 23)
0
It was down to earth with a very big bang tonight as following a stirring rendition of Sunshine on Leith and a fortuitous opening goal, Hibs were comprehensively outplayed by a stronger, fitter and altogether superior Rangers. The final score of 4-1 could have been much more embarrassing but for some wayward finishing by the visitors, a solitary excellent save from David Marshall and some last ditch tackles predominantly by Fish and Egan-Riley.
Ironically, the first chance of the game fell to Mathew Hoppe who was set up by Jeggo only to shoot his effort wide of the target. A Barasic cross then offered Davies a chance, but his header sailed wide. After eight minutes, a deep cross from Henderson found Hoppe at the back post and the striker fired a low ball into the six yard box where Goldson turned the ball past McGregor to put Hibs 1-0 ahead.
That stung the visitors who were finding tons of space out wide as both Cadden and Stevenson, presumably under instruction to do so by the manager, were pushing high and leaving huge gaps behind them which Rangers exploited to the maximum. The Hibs lead lasted just four minutes and Rangers levelled from the spot when Kent broke into the box and tried to double back when Egan-Riley whipped his standing leg from under him. I thought it was a penalty but Don Robertson had other ideas and waived play on but the VAR official looked at it, sent Robertson to the monitor and the Ref duly pointed to the spot, Tavernier smashing the ball past Marshall to make it 1-1.
From that point forward it was all Rangers as Hibs persisted with the high positioned full backs whilst Kent and Sakala made use of the space to exploit a weakened defensive line. Kent should have scored but shot wide, then moments later it was Kent again but his shot was straight at David Marshall. Sakala and Kent again were thwarted by positive blocks from Will Fish and still there looked to be no suggestion from the home dugout that our full backs needed to defend rather than wandering up the park and leaving huge gaps behind them.
On the half hour, a cross from the right found Barasic unmarked some eight yards out but his volleyed shot was well saved by Marshall who tipped the ball over the bar for a corner. It seemed only a matter of time before the visitors would strike again and a poor ball from Cadden was shut down in the midfield area by Jack. The ball was quickly shuttled out to the left where Sakala delivered a low cross towards the front post where Colak wandered in front of Hanlon before diverting the ball past Marshall.
A rare break forward by Hibs brought a foul on Hoppe by Cantwell and the kick was taken quickly finding Youan inside the Rangers box with only McGregor between him and the goal. Unfortunately, the ball bounced a little high and in trying to lob the keeper Youan only found the raised arms of the Rangers keeper. I was praying for half time by now as Rangers continued to play around us in midfield and find plentiful space in the forward areas. Colak, Barasic and Sakala all either thwarted chances or we stopped by last ditch blocks or tackles.
Watching the subs warming up at half time it was clear that Lee Johnson wasnt planning to change personnel which only left the formation to be tweaked to try and earn a foothold in the game. For the first few minutes, Hibs enjoyed some possession but it didnt last long as a dreadful kick out by Marshall was headed back towards the Hibs goal by Kent. Sakala latched on and in the blink of an eye hed smashed a low shot past Marshall to put Rangers 3-1 ahead. Five minutes later it was 4-1 as Hibs made a mess of trying to clear their lines and Colak took advantage, poking the ball in from eight yards.
Half an hour to go and we were looking at the real possibility of being totally humiliated. Rangers continued to dominate proceedings and I have to say I lost count of the number of times Hibs players lost out in fifty/fifty challenges. At times we were powderpuff in such challenges, and it was embarrassing to watch. On the hour mark, the impressive Raskin took a sore one from Lewis Stevenson who was booked for the challenge. Rangers continued to play with us as we chased shadows all over the park until twenty minutes from the end, Lee Johnson decided to replace Stevenson with Cabraja. Astonishingly, Cabraja seemed to have been given the same instructions as the man he replaced as he was playing much too far upfield and leaving the same gaps. I mean Tavernier was nearer our goal than Cabraja!
Kent, in a free role had been tormenting defenders all night and its surprising it took so long for someone to be booked for a challenge on him, Hanlon the culprit. Rangers then made five changes in the one go with Wright, Hagi, Armstrong, Morales and Lindstrom replacing Sakala, Kent, Raskin, Cantwell and Colak. There was no discernible change to the pattern of play as Hibs remained camped around their eighteen yard box. The next substitution saw Johnson replacing Henderson with McKirdy and that didnt change anything either. Late efforts by Tavernier and Morelos failed to trouble Marshall and there was a huge sigh of relief when the referee blew for full time.
This was a shocking display and whilst Im sure the players will be the subject of much discussion, I feel Lee Johnsons part in this debacle should also go under the spotlight. It was evident from the equaliser onwards that his tactics had failed and yet he did nothing to try and react to the pummelling Hibs were getting, given that the gaps left behind our full backs was criminal and cost us dear.
The players
Im not going to detail any of them as with a couple of exceptions, every one of them was weak and ineffectual. The two exceptions are Fish, who probably singlehandedly prevented Rangers from scoring two more goals and Josh Campbell who ran himself into the ground from start to finish when others around them had thrown in the towel.
Lee Johnson He reckons we lacked composure I reckon they lacked being set up to avoid shipping goals left right and centre.
Referee Don Robertson had a mare in my opinion.
Ironically, the first chance of the game fell to Mathew Hoppe who was set up by Jeggo only to shoot his effort wide of the target. A Barasic cross then offered Davies a chance, but his header sailed wide. After eight minutes, a deep cross from Henderson found Hoppe at the back post and the striker fired a low ball into the six yard box where Goldson turned the ball past McGregor to put Hibs 1-0 ahead.
That stung the visitors who were finding tons of space out wide as both Cadden and Stevenson, presumably under instruction to do so by the manager, were pushing high and leaving huge gaps behind them which Rangers exploited to the maximum. The Hibs lead lasted just four minutes and Rangers levelled from the spot when Kent broke into the box and tried to double back when Egan-Riley whipped his standing leg from under him. I thought it was a penalty but Don Robertson had other ideas and waived play on but the VAR official looked at it, sent Robertson to the monitor and the Ref duly pointed to the spot, Tavernier smashing the ball past Marshall to make it 1-1.
From that point forward it was all Rangers as Hibs persisted with the high positioned full backs whilst Kent and Sakala made use of the space to exploit a weakened defensive line. Kent should have scored but shot wide, then moments later it was Kent again but his shot was straight at David Marshall. Sakala and Kent again were thwarted by positive blocks from Will Fish and still there looked to be no suggestion from the home dugout that our full backs needed to defend rather than wandering up the park and leaving huge gaps behind them.
On the half hour, a cross from the right found Barasic unmarked some eight yards out but his volleyed shot was well saved by Marshall who tipped the ball over the bar for a corner. It seemed only a matter of time before the visitors would strike again and a poor ball from Cadden was shut down in the midfield area by Jack. The ball was quickly shuttled out to the left where Sakala delivered a low cross towards the front post where Colak wandered in front of Hanlon before diverting the ball past Marshall.
A rare break forward by Hibs brought a foul on Hoppe by Cantwell and the kick was taken quickly finding Youan inside the Rangers box with only McGregor between him and the goal. Unfortunately, the ball bounced a little high and in trying to lob the keeper Youan only found the raised arms of the Rangers keeper. I was praying for half time by now as Rangers continued to play around us in midfield and find plentiful space in the forward areas. Colak, Barasic and Sakala all either thwarted chances or we stopped by last ditch blocks or tackles.
Watching the subs warming up at half time it was clear that Lee Johnson wasnt planning to change personnel which only left the formation to be tweaked to try and earn a foothold in the game. For the first few minutes, Hibs enjoyed some possession but it didnt last long as a dreadful kick out by Marshall was headed back towards the Hibs goal by Kent. Sakala latched on and in the blink of an eye hed smashed a low shot past Marshall to put Rangers 3-1 ahead. Five minutes later it was 4-1 as Hibs made a mess of trying to clear their lines and Colak took advantage, poking the ball in from eight yards.
Half an hour to go and we were looking at the real possibility of being totally humiliated. Rangers continued to dominate proceedings and I have to say I lost count of the number of times Hibs players lost out in fifty/fifty challenges. At times we were powderpuff in such challenges, and it was embarrassing to watch. On the hour mark, the impressive Raskin took a sore one from Lewis Stevenson who was booked for the challenge. Rangers continued to play with us as we chased shadows all over the park until twenty minutes from the end, Lee Johnson decided to replace Stevenson with Cabraja. Astonishingly, Cabraja seemed to have been given the same instructions as the man he replaced as he was playing much too far upfield and leaving the same gaps. I mean Tavernier was nearer our goal than Cabraja!
Kent, in a free role had been tormenting defenders all night and its surprising it took so long for someone to be booked for a challenge on him, Hanlon the culprit. Rangers then made five changes in the one go with Wright, Hagi, Armstrong, Morales and Lindstrom replacing Sakala, Kent, Raskin, Cantwell and Colak. There was no discernible change to the pattern of play as Hibs remained camped around their eighteen yard box. The next substitution saw Johnson replacing Henderson with McKirdy and that didnt change anything either. Late efforts by Tavernier and Morelos failed to trouble Marshall and there was a huge sigh of relief when the referee blew for full time.
This was a shocking display and whilst Im sure the players will be the subject of much discussion, I feel Lee Johnsons part in this debacle should also go under the spotlight. It was evident from the equaliser onwards that his tactics had failed and yet he did nothing to try and react to the pummelling Hibs were getting, given that the gaps left behind our full backs was criminal and cost us dear.
The players
Im not going to detail any of them as with a couple of exceptions, every one of them was weak and ineffectual. The two exceptions are Fish, who probably singlehandedly prevented Rangers from scoring two more goals and Josh Campbell who ran himself into the ground from start to finish when others around them had thrown in the towel.
Lee Johnson He reckons we lacked composure I reckon they lacked being set up to avoid shipping goals left right and centre.
Referee Don Robertson had a mare in my opinion.