Marco Negri chalked up his 30th goal of the season today to keep Rangers on
course for a record 10th successive title.
The Italian striker scored in the 50th minute after being bundled over by
Darren Dods.
Negri took the kick himself only to see comeback keeper Chris Reid parry his
weak effort.
Negri followed up only to see his shot hit the bar and he bundled the ball
over the line at the third time of asking.
Rangers are now only a point behind leaders Hearts when the teams meet at
Tynecastle on Saturday week in a game that could have a huge bearing on where
the title ends up.
Negri's match today finished in frustration as he was carried off after 82
minutes, feeling the effects of a challenge from Dods earlier in the game.
He was followed to the dressing room four minutes later by Hibs defender Jean
Marc Boco after a shuddering tackle from Stale Stensaas which saw the Rangers
player booked.
This was Hibs 11th game without a victory and they look like being sucked into
a relegation battle for the second year running.
They face Aberdeen on Saturday and after a run of 11 matches without a victory
manager Jim Duffy will be looking for a win to ease the pressure.
Yet Hibs started brightly at Ibrox today and Reid, recalled to the side for
the first time since August, kept out Rangers.
Negri almost put Rangers ahead after two minutes with a stunning shot that
went wide of the post.
Hibs grew in confidence as the game progressed and keeper Andy Goram did well
to tip away a header from John Hughes after Chic Charnley had floated in the
free kick.
Then Chris Jackson dispossessed Stuart McCall and knocked the ball across to
Tony Rougier. But he somehow managed to steer the ball wide of the target in
front of goal.
Rangers stepped up the pace before half time but were twice denied in quick
succession by Reid. He punched away a shot from Jonas Thern then did well to get
on the end of a shot from Rino Gattuso after Richard Gough had played the ball
in.
But it took Rangers only five minutes of the half to take the lead through
Negri after Alex Clelland played the ball in to the penalty area.
Negri was held back by Dods and his scrambled goal gave Rangers the
breakthrough they were looking for.
Jorg Albertz then saw a free kick deflected over the bar and Gattuso fired in
a shot from an acute angle that went just over the top.
But Rangers became complacent and almost let their slim lead slip when Stevie
Crawford unlocked the defence only for Rougier to pull his shot wide of the
target.
Boco was taken to the dressing room unconscious after a clash of heads with
Stensaas but came to minutes later.
There were worries about his condition on the field and the players quickly
gestured for a stretcher.
Hibs club doctor Jim Ledingham joined the medics on the pitch as Boco was
gently lifted onto the stretcher.
Manager Jim Duffy said: "There was a bit of worry with it being a clash of
heads and he was choking. But he should be okay."
Teams:
Rangers: Goram, Cleland, Stensaas, Gough, McCall, Bjorklund,
Thern, Albertz, Negri (Durrant 82), Gattuso (Ferguson 77), Durie.
Subs Not Used: Bollan.
Booked: Gattuso, Durie, Cleland.
Goals: Negri 51.
Hibernian: Reid, Boco (Renwick 87), Dow, Dods, Hughes, Charnley,
Harper, Jackson, Crawford, Rougier (Miller 81), McGinlay.
Subs Not Used: Gottskalksson.
Booked: Charnley, Hughes, McGinlay.
Att: 48,070
Ref: K Clark (Paisley).
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