Rangers vs Hibs LIVE reaction as Nico Raskin inspires hosts to book Premier Sports Cup semi-final place
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Rangers fans chant ‘[Russell] Martin get to f–k’ outside Ibrox as pressure mounts on Ibrox boss
Man of the match Nico Raskin set Rangers on their way to the Premier Sports Cup semi-final as the midfielder marked his return to the XI with a goal against Hibs at Ibrox.
The Belgian had been banished by Russell Martin – the target of furious protests before kick off – in recent weeks but was back in the fold for the quarter final tie and opened the scoring in a comfortable win.
Bojan Miovski added a second with his first goal for the club after Raskin’s headed opener.
And it means the Light Blues can now look forward to a trip to Hampden in November as they look to get their hands on the first piece of silverware of the season.
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh flew in from America to take in the game and thousands of fans protested against Martin and CEO Patrick Stewart before kick off.
Follow all the reaction right here in our LIVE blog.
19:50Gavin Berry
5 talking points
Raskin for it
It just had to be Raskin. The cheer that went up for Rangers number 43 when the teams were read out ahead of kick off told its own story. But it was nothing compared to the roar that greeted Raskin’s opener as he got across Bushiri to glance home Tavernier’s corner. With the pressure at breaking point Martin opted to put the dynamo back in his midfield for the first time since the battering in Brugge. And he proved why.
Box to box energy from the base of midfield, tenacious in the tackle and looking to support the attack at the other end. He led by example. There’s a reason why he’s a starter for Belgium. Even Martin knows he can’t do without him now. He even afford the 24-year-old a warm pat on the back as he left the park to a standing ovation.
Russell up more time
The planned protest ahead of kick off was a bit like Martin’s side have been – timid. But the sentiment among the 1500 punters was clear. It only took 14 seconds of the game for the first round of ‘Martin Get tae ….’ to ring round the stadium.
Rangers manager Russell Martin
Yet this performance was largely everything that’s been missing of late. Rangers controlled the vast majority of the encounter, looked tidy up to the final third even if they looked toothless at times and eventually found a cutting edge. They even got a VAR decision going their way when it looked like Hibs had streaked ahead. It’ll take a hell of a lot more to get fans back onside, if they can be won round. But it’s a start.
Capital loss
Who knows how things might have transpired had VAR not spotted the handball I the build-up to Martin Boyle’s 19th minute strike. It was the right call though and other than that HIbs never looked like following up their Edinburgh rivals Hearts victory here a week earlier. Kieron Bowie was a handful as always but scuffed his one sight of goal wide after the break while John Souttar and the impressive Derek Cornelius kept Boyle largely in check.
It’s now five without a win for David Gray’s side who face Falkirk and Celtic in the next week. They badly need a win.
Wing and a prayer
Martin has accused his players of looking scared and being crippled by anxiety feeding down from the crowd. One man that can’t apply to is Djeidi Gassama. From the moment he announced his arrival against Panathinaikos the left winger has been the most direct player in Rangers’ attack. Again here he ran at and tormented Josh Mulligan and saw a second half effort crack the bar. On the other side Mikey Moore came up with an assist for the second goal. But he needs to produce more impact.
Cavenagh swatch
A penny for the thoughts of Rangers’ American owner after this. If ever a barometer was needed for the feeling towards the current management and chief executive it was the vast swathes of empty spaces in the stadium. The official attendance was given as a generous 34,000 including 2400 Hibees but it looked less. If the evening began against the backdrop of protests it ended with something a little closer to harmony after a satisfactory performance. We’ll never know if Cavenagh was in town ready to pull the trigger on another defeat. But Martin has to ensure this is a turning point.
19:41KEY EVENT
FT! Rangers 2 Hibs 0
A big result for Russell Martin!
Rangers progress to the Premier Sports Cup semi-final!
19:39Mark Pirie
A solo run by Antman
He skips beyond two Hibs players and nutmegs Bushiri – but drags his effort narrowly wide when one on one with Sallinger!
19:38Andrew Newport
Relief for Martin
There were inflateable sharks floating about Edmiston Drive before kick-off as the Light Blue legions held their doorstep demo.
But Russell Martin will be hoping this is a result that takes some of the air out of the crisis that has engulfed the early days of his Rangers reign.
The chants to GTF were replaced by cheers of celebration as Nico Raskin and Bojan Miovski relieved their boss of some pressure and sealed a place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
His team are on their way to Hampden but Martin will know he has a long way to go if this is to prove to be the turning point in his relations with the punters.
He’ll be massively grateful that David Gray’s Hibs side did not come to Glasgow with the same intent as city neighbours Hearts last week.
While Derek McInnes sent his team out to hound and press Rangers into the mistakes they so ruthlessly exploited, the Leith men took a far more reactive approach and that merely allowed the home team to finally find some kind of rhythm.
19:36Mark Pirie
Chermiti on the counter
He’s one on one with the goalkeeper – but Sallinger sticks a leg out to block the low drive.
19:35Mark Pirie
Raskin comes off
And he gets a standing ovation.
Gassama is also off with Curtis and Bajrami joining the action.
19:34Mark Pirie
Molotnikov on the counter
And his good work earns a corner for the visitors. Will we have a twist late in the game?
19:33Mark Pirie
Scramble!
But no Rangers player can put Tavernier’s cross into the net – a big let off for the visitors!
19:30Mark Pirie
Cadden with the ball in
And Klidje throws himself in front of teammate Molotnikov – with his tame header collected by Butland.
19:28Andrew Newport
More needed from Moore
On-loan Spurs kid Mikey Moore had a hand in the goal that gave Gers breathing room.
But apart from the deflected shot that broke for Bojan Miovski to tuck home No2, there hasn’t been much end product from the teenager.
It’s a familiar story right enough. The youngster declared early on that he has ambitions of becoming one of the world’s best players.
But he’s yet to give much of an insight into the abilities that have got his Tottenham coaches so excited.
Of course it would be harsh to judge the lad so early, especially given the bin fire he has stepped into at Ibrox.
But Martin really needs all his men stepping up their game if he’s to survive long term and that includes the 18-year-old.
19:28Mark Pirie
Antman whips a cross in
First time by the winger – but Chermiti lets it drift in front of him and it’s cleared for a corner.
19:24Mark Pirie
Chermiti joins the action
The £8million man comes on alongside Antman with Moore and Miovski coming off.
19:22Mark Pirie
How many ARE inside Ibrox?
An official attendance of 34,682 has been announced.
19:20Mark Pirie
Moore wide of the post
It’s so close for the Tottenham loanee with a snapshot – but it just whistles wide of the right hand post.
19:19Mark Pirie
Chance for Hibs!
It should have been!
Klidje from the left finds Hoilett – who takes his time, and opts for the pass across the six yard box rather than take the shot.
The time costs the visitors – as he eventually passes to Bowie before the shot is blocked.
19:17Mark Pirie
Chaiwa breaks down the left
But Barron is quick to crowd him out – and it’s a goal kick.
19:16Mark Pirie
Change for the hosts
Barron replaces Diomande.
19:15KEY EVENT
Miovski finds the net
But the goal is chalked off for offside – with VAR backing up the on field team.
19:14Mark Pirie
Souttar effort blocked
Tavernier’s cross in is headed down by Souttar – but Bowie blocks for another corner.
19:13Mark Pirie
Meghoma from range
But it’s well blocked, and another corner for Rangers.
19:11Mark Pirie
Bowie battles with Cornelius
He stays strong against Souttar – and goes on to tackle his centre-back partner.
The Canadian international hauls down Bowie and it’s a free-kick on the right.
19:10Andrew Newport
Hibs hanging in
Hibs are refusing to throw the towel in here and David Gray will hope his team can mount a repeat of the recoveries that rescued draws against St Mirren and Dundee United in recent weeks.
Gray’s team were 3-1 down at home to the Tangerines last time out but fought back bravely to snatchg a draw thanks to goals from Kieron Bowie and Jamie McGrath.
Rocky Bushuri’s goal picked up a point against Saints too the week before.
But the capital club can’t afford to take so many risks in defence. They were mightily lucky that Hanley got back on the line to block Mivoski’s attempt on the line after some suicidal stuff trying to build out of defence.
19:09Mark Pirie
Inch perfect by Souttar
And it allows Gassama to collect the ball on the left and burst into the box.
He finds space – and attempts a backheel to Meghoma, but the loanee isn’t on the same wavelenght and the visitors clear their lines.
19:07Mark Pirie
Hibs struggling to cause problems
Rangers are playing with a high line – and it’s giving the visitors chances on the wings.
But with 30 minutes left they have yet to carve out a clear second half chance.
19:04Mark Pirie
Scramble in the box
Souttar’s header almost falls to Boyle – but he is crowded out and it’s out for a corner.
19:04Mark Pirie
McGrath bursts forward
And Diomande hauls him down to give away the free kick in a central area.
19:02Mark Pirie
Off the line!
It’s all going wrong for Hibs!
Slack play at the back and Obita gifts the ball to Gassama, who is one on one with the goalkeeper.
Sallinger does well to block, before it falls to Miovski.
It’s Hanley to the rescue – as the striker sees his effort cleared off the line.
19:01Mark Pirie
Off the bar!
Gassama cuts in from the left – and his curling effort goes close to a third!
19:00Mark Pirie
Claims for handball
Miovksi is furious after the ball bounces up off Bushiri before he can take a shot.
But VAR has cleared the Hibs man.
18:59KEY EVENT
Another protest from the Union Bears
A banner taking aim at CEO Patrick Stewart is now revealed.
“Quick to blame fans, slow to admit failure. Stewart out.”
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