Rangers 2-1 Hibs

Mar 23 2008 Mark Guidi At Ibrox

Gers Have To Sweat It In Struggle

RANGERS 2

HIBS 1

RANGERS may have announced a new season ticket initiative - but any more performances like this and you couldn't pay their supporters to turn up.

Yes, the points are in the bag and that's all that matters at this stage of the season.

But this won't be a match the punters will remember.

Goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo kept Walter Smith's men on course for the title as they moved six points clear of bitter rivals Celtic.

Hibs gave Gers a late scare when Dean Shiels pulled one back after 88 minutes but Smith's side were never in trouble.

This was an awful 90 minutes. Sadly the sub-standard performance from both sides was THE talking point.

The wind and bumpy surface didn't help the players but that is no excuse for not being able to pass 10 yards from A to B.

The first half was shocking and one of the rare highlights was a Sasa Papac shot from 25 yards that flew over keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay's bar.

Rangers once again played with just one main striker as Darcheville took over up front from CIS Cup Final hero Kris Boyd.

But that system meant they couldn't put enough pressure on the Hibs defence.

Novo, Boyd and Stevie Naismith sat on the bench when the game was crying out for one of them to join Darcheville.

And the French striker didn't get the service he thrives on as Barry Ferguson and Lee McCulloch were off form.

At the other end Steven Fletcher hoped to impress. His movement was clever but the Hibs kid was also starved of decent service.

When it came to passing the ball from defence the Easter Road side were even worse than Gers.

Yesterday was the 13th anniversary of Davie Cooper's tragic death while former striker Dado Prso was back in town to make the half-time draw.

And it would have been great to see players of their quality on the pitch to light things up.

However, Darcheville lifted the gloom in 39 minutes when he scored with a brilliant finish.

Hibs defender Martin Canning got sucked in on the touchline and that allowed Papac to play a lovely ball inside him.

Darcheville burst into the Hibs box and decided his best option was to go for goal.

From an acute angle he blasted a 10-yard strike high into the net beyond the outstretched arms of Ma-Kalambay.

That was the Rangers' 100th goal of the season in their 50th competitive game.

Boss Smithwas pleased with that stat and hit back at the critics who have questioned his team selection in attack.

He said: "It's pleasing to score 100 goals - considering we don't play with any forwards."

The second half was better than the first and Kevin Thomson caught the eye for Rangers.

The former Hibs midfielder passed well and linked play.

Rangers threatened again in 53 minutes with a move that started when Allan McGregor threw the ball out to Steven Davis.

The midfielder fed Darcheville who had nipped ahead of Ross Chisholm to race in on goal.

The Frenchman could have taken it further but opted to shoot from the edge of the box and his effort was well saved.

That was one of Darcheville's last contributions as Novo came on for his 23rd appearance off the bench this season.

Hibs sub Shiels forced McGregor into a save after 72 minutes with a trundling shot from 20 yards.

That was the Easter Road side's first effort on goal - a quite embarrassing statistic.

Rangers sealed the victory they badly wanted when Novo grabbed the second after 78 minutes.

Davis sent a long diagonal ball into the box that Chris Hogg couldn't clear properly. His header dropped into the path of Novo and he swivelled to fire a 14-yard strike low past Ma-Kalambay.

And the Spaniard enjoyed his moment after being sent off against Hibs two weeks ago.

Novo's goal proved to be crucial as the Hibees netted with two minutes left.

Shiels rattled the bar then followed up to slam home the rebound from eight yards.

Rangers had no more pressure to deal with and comfortably held on for the win. The result sets Gers up nicely for Saturday's vital Old Firm clash at Ibrox.

Smith would settle for the same result. But they won't achieve that with the same standard of display.

REF WATCH

STEVE CONROY had a good first half but was hesitant after that and should have shown more authority. Rating: 5/10.

MATCH STATS

RANGERS

SHOTS ON 6

SHOTS OFF 3

OFFSIDE 1

FOULS 13

CORNERS 4

BOOKINGS 0

HIBS

SHOTS ON 2

SHOTS OFF 6

OFFSIDE 0

FOULS 15

CORNERS 3

BOOKINGS 3