Teams

Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Dailly, Thomson, Davis, Ferguson, McCulloch (Whittaker 81), Darcheville (Novo 67). Subs Not Used: Alexander, Boyd, Naismith, Emslie, Furman.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, Canning, Hogg, Jones, Zarabi, Morais (Shiels 58), Chisholm (Zemmama 58), Rankin, Murray, Nish, Fletcher (Benjelloun 75). Subs Not Used: McNeil, McCann, O'Brien, Stevenson.

A sell out crowd at ibrox watched on with an air of caution after Rangers midweek performance agaisnts the Jags.  That scene of worry seemed to stream down from the stands onto the pitch.  It seemed even before the teams came on the pitch that Walter had the same thoughts.  The lone Rangers tactics again at home.  Usually thats ok, because Walter usually plays the lone Ranger upfront but with some fast paced wingers tog ive them attacking support and width.  That wasn't the case today. Davis on the right and McCulloch on the left didn't exactly scream positive.

A cagey opening to the game by both teams, with Rangers not being threatened and not threatening the oppenents goal.  However, it was some slack play from Rangers which presented the visitors with their first sight of goal.  An errant delivery found its way to Filipe Morias, who lifted a neat pass towards Colin Nish, but the big striker misjudged the bounce of the ball as he bore down on keeper Allan McGregor and a great chance was gone.  Rangers first meaningful attack led to their first chance.  Papac thundering from the back and cut inside then unleashed a long range effort that missed the target by yards. 

Smith's side had been out-of-sorts but took the lead five minutes before the interval thanks to the sharpness of Darcheville and sloppy defending from Hibs.  Full-back Martin Canning was caught napping when Papac threaded a simple pass through to his team-mate and the striker cut in from the left flank before slamming a shot beyond Yves Makalambay from a tight angle. Darcheville was the only attacking threat for Rangers and put in a tremendous shift.  After the break he was at it again, Darcheville broke clear of the Hibs defence but Makalambay used his large frame to block the Frenchman's shot from 18 yards. And again 10 mins later, Darch was taking the hibs defence on himself, he raced into a dangerous position but was thwarted by the keeper, who was quick to leave his area and kick clear.

With the clock running down 75 mins, there was an increasing sense of worry again coming across ibrox, a second goal would be required to seal this game.  And 4 mins later it came.  Hogg made a mess of dealing with a long ball from Kirk Broadfoot and Novo was on hand to spin on the defender's weak header and shoot low past Makalambay. A great strikers finish from the little forward. Game seemed killed and wrapped up for the gers with 85 mins gone on the clock and the subway loyal leaving in their dozens.  But a lazy Rangers defence gifted hibs a chink of light, a ball through the defence easily found Sheils and the energetic youngster beautiful lobbed the keeper only to see it rebound off the bar, but the striker didnt give up and finnished the rebound well. Cue a last 5 mins of nail biting and nerve jangling.  Luckily for Rangers it was only a late consolation for the away team and Rangers played out the final minutes without any real danger.

All in all, Rangers performance was a routine win, with a very much "Job Done" attitude to it.  Another 3 points in the bag, and one more step to the title