Rangers turned up the heat at the top of the Premier Division tonight by
running out comfortable winners over rock-bottom Hibs to draw level on points
with leaders Celtic.
Three goals in a 20-minute spell midway through the second half from Ally
McCoist, Jonas Thern and substitute Gordon Durie means the champions are back on
course for a 10th successive championship.
Celtic still have a game in hand, but, despite Walter Smith's protestations
otherwise, Rangers have gained an invaluable psychological boost ahead of
Sunday's Old Firm semi-final at Parkhead.
For long periods it looked as if Alex McLeish's relegation-haunted side would
frustrate the champions' best efforts, but once McCoist had stolen in to head
his 251st League goal after 56 minutes, the result was never in doubt.
With five games remaining, Hibs' task of hauling back the six points on
second-bottom Dunfermline now looks an increasingly impossible one.
Their defensive approach saw Stevie Crawford ploughing a lonely furrow up
front and, despite the attacking threat posed by Trinidadian winger Tony
Rougier, Antti Niemi was rarely troubled in the Rangers goal.
The Finn was a surprise starter for Andy Goram, while Smith introduced Craig
Moore on the right side of defence for injured Italian defender Sergio Porrini.
Hibs, meanwhile, brought back the fit-again Willie Miller at right-back in
place of Michael Renwick, with Paul Tosh re-enforcing the midfield in the
absence of Kevin Harper.
In the early stages the visitors managed to restrict the champions to a series
of half-chances.
Italian striker Marco Negri forced Hibs keeper Bryan Gunn to get down to his
snap-shot after 17 minutes and Scotland international Stuart McCall blazed a
freekick wastefully over from a central position.
As the half wore on, the visitors grew in confidence and might have been in
front but for Niemi, who was forced to beat away a stinging drive from Stevie
Crawford on the half-hour.
As the first half drew to a close, Moore found his way into the referee's book
for obstructing Rougier, while defensive colleague Petric picked up a yellow
card after appearing to catch the same player in the face.
The second half looked to be following a similar pattern as Rougier found
space in which to run at the right side of Rangers defence, despite Alex
Cleland's switch from left-back.
Thern, scorer of three goals on his last five games, wasted an opportunity
with a poor first touch when set up by Laudrup inside the box.
But suddenly the whole mood changed with two goals in as many minutes and, not
for the first time in his Ibrox career, Ally McCoist made the breakthrough.
A freekick was swept in from the left by Albertz and McCoist sneaked in ahead
of the entire Hibs defence to nod home from close range after 56 minutes.
Before Hibs had time to recover from that blow, Albertz skipped down theleft
touchline and pulled the ball back for the disappointing Thern to slide home the
second, left-footed, into the roof of the net.
Hibs full-back Miller had time to become the third player booked for a high
lunge at Albertz, before Rangers killed the game as a contest with a quarter of
an hour remaining.
Gordon Durie, barely on the field for two minutes for his first outing since
being knocked unconscious at Kilmarnock five weeks ago, celebrated his return in
style by latching onto Negri's neat flick and angling a drive into the far
corner.
Smith allowed himself the luxury of taking off goalscorers Thern and McCoist,
and later Laudrup as thoughts turn to a make-or-break Old Firm Cup and League
double header.
Teams
Rangers: Niemi, Cleland, Albertz, Gough, Petric, Moore,
Thern (Gattuso 73), McCoist (Durie 73), Negri, McCall,
Laudrup (Durrant 78).
Booked: Moore, Petric.
Goals: McCoist 56, Thern 58, Durie 75.
Hibernian: Gunn, Miller, Boco, Brebner, Dods, Welsh,
Tosh (Dow 69), Rougier, Crawford, Skinner (Renwick 82), McGinlay.
Subs Not Used: Elliot.
Booked: Miller.
Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow).
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