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| Hibernian v Rangers: Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final – live! | Hibernian v Rangers: Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.57pm BST13:57 | |
| Full-time: Hibs 1-0 Rangers (Rangers win 2-1 on aggregate) | |
| Nope. Far, far too late. Rangers will face Motherwell in the final! | |
| 1.56pm BST13:56 | |
| Goal! Hibs 1-0 Rangers (Cummings 90+4 min) | |
| Or not? Cummings receives the ball to the right of the penalty spot, about 15 yards out, and curls a lovely shot into the top corner! Surely not....? | |
| 1.55pm BST13:55 | |
| 90+3 min: Malonga swivels and shoots, and I reckon that’s going in if nobody blocks it. But two Rangers players do.....then Hibs hit the woodwork! Allan wriggles to the byline, Malonga has another go from his cutback, it balls to Hanlon from a tight angle and he smashes it against the outside of the post. That was the last chance to make it interesting. | |
| 1.53pm BST13:53 | |
| 90+2 min: Fyvie is booked for fouling Clark. Far more yellow cards than anything else of interest in the last half-hour. | |
| 1.53pm BST13:53 | |
| 90+1 min: Djedje happens upon a bouncing ball 20 yards out but scoops far, far over the top. The Hibs fans are being waved “cheerio” by their friendly guests. | |
| 1.52pm BST13:52 | |
| 90 min: Five minutes of stoppage time will be played. | |
| 1.50pm BST13:50 | |
| 89 min: Rangers have Hibs pegged back by their own corner flag, Black charging down an attempted clearance to raucous approval from his supporters. He is then booked, though, for delaying a free kick. | |
| 1.49pm BST13:49 | |
| 88 min: Here comes Bilel Mohsni for Rangers. The big Tunisian replaces Kenny Miller. Rangers will see this out now. | |
| 1.47pm BST13:47 | |
| 86 min: This time Bell doesn’t judge the flight of Allan’s cross, misses the ball, but nobody behind him is prepared and it goes out for a goal kick. | |
| 1.46pm BST13:46 | |
| 85 min: El Alagui gets a free kick this time though, as he’s pushed over about 30 yards out just to the left. | |
| 1.45pm BST13:45 | |
| 84 min: I’m going to put everything on the table here and say Hibs won’t be turning this around. Rangers are defending comfortably and very well, and are winning the physical duels. | |
| 1.43pm BST13:43 | |
| 82 min: Rangers make a second change. Ian Black comes on, and off shuffles ex-Hibee Dean Shiels. | |
| 1.42pm BST13:42 | |
| 81 min: McCulloch goes down clutching his face after another clash with El Alagui, whose pest value has not been matched by anything constructive. | |
| 1.41pm BST13:41 | |
| 80 min: Cries for a foul on El Alagui, who fell as he tried to power though a cluster of players on the edge of the box, but nothing doing. The McCulloch heads away an Allan cross. | |
| 1.40pm BST13:40 | |
| 79 min: Another booking, now for Allan, who has been a buzzing, inventive menace but makes a late tackle that smacks of frustration. | |
| 1.38pm BST13:38 | |
| 77 min: El Alagui gets up to head down well but Cummings is offside. Hibs do not look remotely close to scoring here. | |
| 1.36pm BST13:36 | |
| 75 min: Wallace is yellow-carded for not taking a free kick quickly enough. | |
| 1.36pm BST13:36 | |
| 75 min: A Rangers sub now. Vuckic comes off and Nicky Clark, who scored in the first leg, replaces him. | |
| 1.35pm BST13:35 | |
| 73 min: Cummings finds space inside the box but can’t pick a way through, then a McGeouch cross-shot goes beyond everyone. | |
| Updated at 1.35pm BST | |
| 1.33pm BST13:33 | |
| 72 min: And Rangers have a chance to seal it, as the impressive Foster gets away from Fontaine on the right, gets to the line, but delays slightly with men in the middle and his centre is scrambled away. | |
| 1.32pm BST13:32 | |
| 71 min: Here is Plan C. Stevenson comes off and another striker, the Ivorian Franck Dja Djedje, is on. Something needs to happen very quickly for Hibs, you sense. | |
| 1.31pm BST13:31 | |
| 69 min: Law twists Fyvie’s blood with a slightly ungainly run down the left and wins a free kick by the left corner flag. It’s quickly played to Vuckic, who goes down in the box under McGeouch’s challenge.....but no penalty, he’s booked for diving! | |
| 1.29pm BST13:29 | |
| 68 min: El Alagui gets his first shot of the game in, another ball from Allan finding him at a tight angle on the right. It is straight at Bell. | |
| 1.29pm BST13:29 | |
| 68 min: Now Zaliukas is booked for impeding Cummings in full flight down the right. The linesman gave that one. Allan tries a drilled delivery to the edge of the area but it’s no threat. If El Alagui is Plan B, do Hibs also have a Plan C? | |
| 1.27pm BST13:27 | |
| 66 min: Gray heads on for El Alagui, but he is nothing close to favourite for that one and Bell claims. The substitute bundles McCulloch over regardless, and is booked for his troubles. | |
| 1.26pm BST13:26 | |
| 65 min: Fyvie finds space outside the area but his pass intended for Malonga is well overhit. Hibs, for all their possession, are still finding it hard to create clear chances. | |
| Updated at 1.34pm BST | |
| 1.24pm BST13:24 | 1.24pm BST13:24 |
| 63 min: Hanlon looks to make use of El Alagui’s height but the ball is both too high and too hard, and he can’t get anything meaningful onto it. | 63 min: Hanlon looks to make use of El Alagui’s height but the ball is both too high and too hard, and he can’t get anything meaningful onto it. |
| 1.23pm BST13:23 | 1.23pm BST13:23 |
| 62 min: Fontaine gives the ball away in the centre circle and for a moment Rangers have a break on, but Allan is back vitally to rob Vuckic.....then perhaps Hibs’ best effort of the game, as Malonga cuts inside from the left and drives in a low shot that is searing inside Bell’s left post, until the ‘keeper fingertips wide! The corner comes to nought but maybe that’s some timely encouragement for Hibs. | 62 min: Fontaine gives the ball away in the centre circle and for a moment Rangers have a break on, but Allan is back vitally to rob Vuckic.....then perhaps Hibs’ best effort of the game, as Malonga cuts inside from the left and drives in a low shot that is searing inside Bell’s left post, until the ‘keeper fingertips wide! The corner comes to nought but maybe that’s some timely encouragement for Hibs. |
| 1.20pm BST13:20 | 1.20pm BST13:20 |
| 59 min: Ok, ok, which other Famous Five novel would this game be then? | 59 min: Ok, ok, which other Famous Five novel would this game be then? |
| 1.19pm BST13:19 | 1.19pm BST13:19 |
| 58 min: Allan teases over a clever pass for Cummings, who I think would have been onside, but the very good Zaliukas is in the right place to flick back to Bell. | 58 min: Allan teases over a clever pass for Cummings, who I think would have been onside, but the very good Zaliukas is in the right place to flick back to Bell. |
| 1.19pm BST13:19 | 1.19pm BST13:19 |
| 58 min: This is going exactly as Rangers would want. Hibs don’t look out of it but they just can’t get any real rhythm together, | 58 min: This is going exactly as Rangers would want. Hibs don’t look out of it but they just can’t get any real rhythm together, |
| Updated at 1.32pm BST | |
| 1.17pm BST13:17 | 1.17pm BST13:17 |
| 56 min: The flag kick, taken by Law from the left, is met by an unattended-to McCulloch but he can’t get any direction on his header. | 56 min: The flag kick, taken by Law from the left, is met by an unattended-to McCulloch but he can’t get any direction on his header. |
| 1.17pm BST13:17 | 1.17pm BST13:17 |
| 55 min: Now Wallace is in action further forwards, bundled over by Gray for a free kick. It’s taken quickly and ends up with Wallace again, who wins a corner. | 55 min: Now Wallace is in action further forwards, bundled over by Gray for a free kick. It’s taken quickly and ends up with Wallace again, who wins a corner. |
| 1.15pm BST13:15 | 1.15pm BST13:15 |
| 54 min: Great ball from Fyvie seeks out Cummings but Wallace is in there perceptively to clear. Hibs keep up the pressure and Craig crosses from the left to Malonga, who flashes a left-footed volley not far wide from 12 yards. | 54 min: Great ball from Fyvie seeks out Cummings but Wallace is in there perceptively to clear. Hibs keep up the pressure and Craig crosses from the left to Malonga, who flashes a left-footed volley not far wide from 12 yards. |
| That’s the last action for midfielder Craig, who is replaced by striker El Alagui. Perhaps we’re now in for El Alamo? | That’s the last action for midfielder Craig, who is replaced by striker El Alagui. Perhaps we’re now in for El Alamo? |
| 1.13pm BST13:13 | 1.13pm BST13:13 |
| 52 min: Allan has just had a cross tipped away by Bell. Yet again there was no obvious target and we are, indeed, about to see the 6ft1 El Alagui. | 52 min: Allan has just had a cross tipped away by Bell. Yet again there was no obvious target and we are, indeed, about to see the 6ft1 El Alagui. |
| 1.12pm BST13:12 | 1.12pm BST13:12 |
| 51 min: Hibs are shooting towards the Famous Five Stand in this half. This is currently more Five Get Into Trouble than Five Have Plenty Of Fun. | 51 min: Hibs are shooting towards the Famous Five Stand in this half. This is currently more Five Get Into Trouble than Five Have Plenty Of Fun. |
| 1.11pm BST13:11 | 1.11pm BST13:11 |
| 50 min: Allan wins a free kick just beyond the left corner of the Rangers area. Great position for a cross, this. It’s lofted to the back stick and headed across by Fontaine but he’s had to crane his neck so far to get any purchase that it’s nigh on impossible to get any power on it. Bell smothers. | 50 min: Allan wins a free kick just beyond the left corner of the Rangers area. Great position for a cross, this. It’s lofted to the back stick and headed across by Fontaine but he’s had to crane his neck so far to get any purchase that it’s nigh on impossible to get any power on it. Bell smothers. |
| 1.09pm BST13:09 | 1.09pm BST13:09 |
| 47 min: Rangers show first as Law switches for Foster, who wins a throw-in. They’ve boxed Hibs in well early on and Wallace then bursts forward to slice well over after a give-and-go. El Alagui is warming up intensively and you’d expect we will see him before too long. | 47 min: Rangers show first as Law switches for Foster, who wins a throw-in. They’ve boxed Hibs in well early on and Wallace then bursts forward to slice well over after a give-and-go. El Alagui is warming up intensively and you’d expect we will see him before too long. |
| Updated at 1.13pm BST | Updated at 1.13pm BST |
| 1.07pm BST13:07 | 1.07pm BST13:07 |
| Peeeeeeep! Rangers have us back underway. | Peeeeeeep! Rangers have us back underway. |
| A defining 45 minutes ahead. | A defining 45 minutes ahead. |
| 1.01pm BST13:01 | 1.01pm BST13:01 |
| I’m hoping this becomes so gripping that we don’t really have to talk to each other but still, get in touch with your observations and maybe there’ll be time to get some back-and-forth going. | I’m hoping this becomes so gripping that we don’t really have to talk to each other but still, get in touch with your observations and maybe there’ll be time to get some back-and-forth going. |
| 12.55pm BST12:55 | 12.55pm BST12:55 |
| Here, with thanks to yer man Roderick Stewart again, is that famous Oxley goal – which was actually on his debut: | Here, with thanks to yer man Roderick Stewart again, is that famous Oxley goal – which was actually on his debut: |
| 12.53pm BST12:53 | 12.53pm BST12:53 |
| Half-time: Hibs 0-0 Rangers | Half-time: Hibs 0-0 Rangers |
| The visitors will be by far the happier with that. Hibs came out roaring, setting a relentless pace for 20 minutes and popping the ball about beautifully. But only half-chances really resulted and Rangers eventually calmed things down, coming close themselves through Miller and Vuckic. The home team did perk up again just before the break but they’ve got a lot to do now if they are to turn this around. They seem to lack a bit of presence inside that penalty area. Time for the six-footer Faris El Alagui? | The visitors will be by far the happier with that. Hibs came out roaring, setting a relentless pace for 20 minutes and popping the ball about beautifully. But only half-chances really resulted and Rangers eventually calmed things down, coming close themselves through Miller and Vuckic. The home team did perk up again just before the break but they’ve got a lot to do now if they are to turn this around. They seem to lack a bit of presence inside that penalty area. Time for the six-footer Faris El Alagui? |
| Updated at 1.09pm BST | Updated at 1.09pm BST |
| 12.51pm BST12:51 | 12.51pm BST12:51 |
| 45+1 min: Then Hanlon finds Malonga inside the area, and for a second he seems to have a sight of goal but Foster snuffs it out. The ball finds Allan on the left, and his wonderfully tempting ball across the six-yard box is hammered away at the last by Zaliukas. Hibs putting Rangers under pressure again as the half draws towards a close. | 45+1 min: Then Hanlon finds Malonga inside the area, and for a second he seems to have a sight of goal but Foster snuffs it out. The ball finds Allan on the left, and his wonderfully tempting ball across the six-yard box is hammered away at the last by Zaliukas. Hibs putting Rangers under pressure again as the half draws towards a close. |
| 12.49pm BST12:49 | 12.49pm BST12:49 |
| 45 min: More like it from the home team as a nice move ends up with McGeouch, whose shot is blocked and loops up into the air before McCulloch slices it away. | 45 min: More like it from the home team as a nice move ends up with McGeouch, whose shot is blocked and loops up into the air before McCulloch slices it away. |
| 12.47pm BST12:47 | 12.47pm BST12:47 |
| 43 min: Similarly, a long pass forward for Gray can only be helped out for a goal kick by the marauding right-back’s head. | 43 min: Similarly, a long pass forward for Gray can only be helped out for a goal kick by the marauding right-back’s head. |
| 12.46pm BST12:46 | 12.46pm BST12:46 |
| 42 min: Fontaine overhits a cross straight to Bell and that kind of sums up how the balance has swung here; Hibs have become far less efficient and constructive, and much more rushed. | 42 min: Fontaine overhits a cross straight to Bell and that kind of sums up how the balance has swung here; Hibs have become far less efficient and constructive, and much more rushed. |
| 12.44pm BST12:44 | 12.44pm BST12:44 |
| 41 min: Decent effort from Vuckic; awkward save from Oxley! Vuckic cuts in from the right and, from an ambitious angle, swirls in a long-range shot that curls wickedly and is tipped wide by a sprawling Oxley, diving to his right! Law’s corner is cleared. Hibs thought Craig had been fouled in the buildup there. | 41 min: Decent effort from Vuckic; awkward save from Oxley! Vuckic cuts in from the right and, from an ambitious angle, swirls in a long-range shot that curls wickedly and is tipped wide by a sprawling Oxley, diving to his right! Law’s corner is cleared. Hibs thought Craig had been fouled in the buildup there. |
| Updated at 12.45pm BST | Updated at 12.45pm BST |
| 12.43pm BST12:43 | 12.43pm BST12:43 |
| 39 min: Stevenson fouls Law on the right – Rangers have a free kick midway inside the Hibs half. It is taken short by Vuckic to Foster but ends up in Oxley’s arms. | 39 min: Stevenson fouls Law on the right – Rangers have a free kick midway inside the Hibs half. It is taken short by Vuckic to Foster but ends up in Oxley’s arms. |
| 12.42pm BST12:42 | 12.42pm BST12:42 |
| 37 min: Chance for Hibs! Allan surges through the midfield, could maybe go it alone but sees Malonga free to his left. The pass is perhaps not quite perfect and Malonga, who has to adjust his body a little awkwardly to wrap his right foot around the ball, shoots harmlessly at Bell. Hibs’ best position for some time. | 37 min: Chance for Hibs! Allan surges through the midfield, could maybe go it alone but sees Malonga free to his left. The pass is perhaps not quite perfect and Malonga, who has to adjust his body a little awkwardly to wrap his right foot around the ball, shoots harmlessly at Bell. Hibs’ best position for some time. |
| 12.40pm BST12:40 | 12.40pm BST12:40 |
| 36 min: Some good possession for Rangers here, inside the Hibs half. It comes to nothing tangible but the longer this continues, the more desperate the hosts’ situation starts becoming. | 36 min: Some good possession for Rangers here, inside the Hibs half. It comes to nothing tangible but the longer this continues, the more desperate the hosts’ situation starts becoming. |
| Updated at 12.56pm BST | Updated at 12.56pm BST |
| 12.38pm BST12:38 | 12.38pm BST12:38 |
| 34 min: Cummings holds the ball up well and finds Craig. Allan takes over but also takes too long and Rangers can come away. | 34 min: Cummings holds the ball up well and finds Craig. Allan takes over but also takes too long and Rangers can come away. |
| 12.36pm BST12:36 | 12.36pm BST12:36 |
| 32 min: Nice work from Allan, whose continued influence is vital to Hibs here. He crosses left footed but it’s above Malonga. Hibs win a throw-in and it’s allowed to bounce in the area....Fyvie nods on but Bell claims well. | 32 min: Nice work from Allan, whose continued influence is vital to Hibs here. He crosses left footed but it’s above Malonga. Hibs win a throw-in and it’s allowed to bounce in the area....Fyvie nods on but Bell claims well. |
| 12.34pm BST12:34 | 12.34pm BST12:34 |
| 30 min: McGeouch controls the ball out of play for a Rangers goal kick, to loud cheers from the away support – who will be feeling a lot happier than they were 10 minutes ago. | 30 min: McGeouch controls the ball out of play for a Rangers goal kick, to loud cheers from the away support – who will be feeling a lot happier than they were 10 minutes ago. |
| 12.33pm BST12:33 | 12.33pm BST12:33 |
| 29 min: Hanlon seems to have been forced into conceding a corner by Miller but, perhaps generously, it is ruled that the striker bundled into him in so doing. | 29 min: Hanlon seems to have been forced into conceding a corner by Miller but, perhaps generously, it is ruled that the striker bundled into him in so doing. |
| Updated at 1.11pm BST | Updated at 1.11pm BST |
| 12.31pm BST12:31 | 12.31pm BST12:31 |
| 27 min: First couple of signs there that Rangers have staunched the flow, and a couple of Hibs passes that were finding their men earlier have gone astray recently. | 27 min: First couple of signs there that Rangers have staunched the flow, and a couple of Hibs passes that were finding their men earlier have gone astray recently. |
| 12.30pm BST12:30 | 12.30pm BST12:30 |
| 26 min: Wallace picks out Vuckic with a good ball from left to right. He passes to Foster, who wriggles free to cross and it’s a great, pacy one for Miller, who gets across his man and heads wide of the near post from six yards! | 26 min: Wallace picks out Vuckic with a good ball from left to right. He passes to Foster, who wriggles free to cross and it’s a great, pacy one for Miller, who gets across his man and heads wide of the near post from six yards! |
| 12.28pm BST12:28 | 12.28pm BST12:28 |
| 25 min: Rangers have got on the ball a bit more in the last few minutes – they even just had a shot, Miller shooting straight at Oxley after receiving it from Vuckic – but it’s still essentially one-way traffic. But you wonder if Hibs might regret not scoring in those first 20 minutes, when they just tore into Rangers. | 25 min: Rangers have got on the ball a bit more in the last few minutes – they even just had a shot, Miller shooting straight at Oxley after receiving it from Vuckic – but it’s still essentially one-way traffic. But you wonder if Hibs might regret not scoring in those first 20 minutes, when they just tore into Rangers. |
| 12.26pm BST12:26 | 12.26pm BST12:26 |
| 23 min: “I’m very nervous here as Hibs are already showing their inability to finish moves,” writes Roderick Stewart. “Can I take this opportunity to complain about the strip Hibs have been wearing all year - basically dark green T-shirts with a logo slapped on the front. And are those grey socks?” | 23 min: “I’m very nervous here as Hibs are already showing their inability to finish moves,” writes Roderick Stewart. “Can I take this opportunity to complain about the strip Hibs have been wearing all year - basically dark green T-shirts with a logo slapped on the front. And are those grey socks?” |
| If it helps distract you from the impending terror, Roderick, yes you may. | If it helps distract you from the impending terror, Roderick, yes you may. |
| Updated at 12.49pm BST | Updated at 12.49pm BST |
| 12.25pm BST12:25 | 12.25pm BST12:25 |
| 22 min: Half a chance again for Cummings, who is found by a lovely flipped pass round the corner from Allan. But the ball sits up for too long and, by time it comes down, Lee McCulloch has caused the striker enough bother to ensure that he scuffs wide. | 22 min: Half a chance again for Cummings, who is found by a lovely flipped pass round the corner from Allan. But the ball sits up for too long and, by time it comes down, Lee McCulloch has caused the striker enough bother to ensure that he scuffs wide. |
| 12.24pm BST12:24 | 12.24pm BST12:24 |
| Key for Hibs during this spell: scoring! | Key for Hibs during this spell: scoring! |
| Ewan is right. | Ewan is right. |
| 12.23pm BST12:23 | 12.23pm BST12:23 |
| 19 min: Allan, who is getting so much room in midfield – it’s often taking just one pass to bypass Rangers – slides a ball through to Cummings in the inside-right position. He cuts onto his left foot but Nicky Law blocks his shot well. | 19 min: Allan, who is getting so much room in midfield – it’s often taking just one pass to bypass Rangers – slides a ball through to Cummings in the inside-right position. He cuts onto his left foot but Nicky Law blocks his shot well. |
| 12.22pm BST12:22 | 12.22pm BST12:22 |
| 18 min: Too intricate from Hibs this time, by the right corner flag, and Cummings is flagged offside from Allan’s pass. | 18 min: Too intricate from Hibs this time, by the right corner flag, and Cummings is flagged offside from Allan’s pass. |
| 12.20pm BST12:20 | 12.20pm BST12:20 |
| 17 min: You’d fancy that plenty of clubs will be looking at Cummings. He’s just 19 and has scored 20 goals this season. Like the rest of his side, he’s started sharply here. | 17 min: You’d fancy that plenty of clubs will be looking at Cummings. He’s just 19 and has scored 20 goals this season. Like the rest of his side, he’s started sharply here. |
| 12.19pm BST12:19 | 12.19pm BST12:19 |
| 15 min: Hibs put together another nice, crisp move down the left, Zaliukas heads Craig’s cross away but the ball finds Fyvie on the edge of the box. His shot is scuffed but into the path of Cummings, who jabs instinctively but straight at Bell. | 15 min: Hibs put together another nice, crisp move down the left, Zaliukas heads Craig’s cross away but the ball finds Fyvie on the edge of the box. His shot is scuffed but into the path of Cummings, who jabs instinctively but straight at Bell. |
| 12.17pm BST12:17 | 12.17pm BST12:17 |
| 13 min: Stevenson tries to take on Shiels but the Rangers man does well and blocks. Hibs getting a lot of joy down both flanks though. Can they keep this tempo up? | 13 min: Stevenson tries to take on Shiels but the Rangers man does well and blocks. Hibs getting a lot of joy down both flanks though. Can they keep this tempo up? |
| 12.16pm BST12:16 | 12.16pm BST12:16 |
| 12 min: Hibs have another free-kick on the left, out by the touchline and level with the edge of the area. Bell again opts to come and punch, and does enough. Rangers try to break but Hibs win it back. The visitors just cannot get on the ball.....and they have a let-off as a diagonal ball from Gray finds Craig in the area, whose low cross-shot is scrambled away from in front of goal! And then another, as Gray gets down the right again and puts in a delightful cross that Bell just tips away from the head of Cummings! Whirlwind start from Hibs here. | 12 min: Hibs have another free-kick on the left, out by the touchline and level with the edge of the area. Bell again opts to come and punch, and does enough. Rangers try to break but Hibs win it back. The visitors just cannot get on the ball.....and they have a let-off as a diagonal ball from Gray finds Craig in the area, whose low cross-shot is scrambled away from in front of goal! And then another, as Gray gets down the right again and puts in a delightful cross that Bell just tips away from the head of Cummings! Whirlwind start from Hibs here. |
| 12.13pm BST12:13 | 12.13pm BST12:13 |
| 9 min: Good effort from Fraser Fyvie, 25 yards out, who fizzes in a low right-footer that Bell gets down well to smother. First shot on target of the game....and now the second, as Cummings flicks the ball over Zaliukas and slightly scuffs a shot that Bell this time falls upon to his left. | 9 min: Good effort from Fraser Fyvie, 25 yards out, who fizzes in a low right-footer that Bell gets down well to smother. First shot on target of the game....and now the second, as Cummings flicks the ball over Zaliukas and slightly scuffs a shot that Bell this time falls upon to his left. |
| 12.12pm BST12:12 | 12.12pm BST12:12 |
| 8 min: Hibs definitely making the early running here. They have some nice technicians in midfield and there’s a lock that needs picking. Scott Allan, once of West Brom, is seeing plenty of the ball and if this continues Rangers might be in for a long afternoon. | 8 min: Hibs definitely making the early running here. They have some nice technicians in midfield and there’s a lock that needs picking. Scott Allan, once of West Brom, is seeing plenty of the ball and if this continues Rangers might be in for a long afternoon. |
| 12.10pm BST12:10 | 12.10pm BST12:10 |
| 6 min: In by Allan from the right, and Fontaine gets up highest....but heads well over from 12 yards. | 6 min: In by Allan from the right, and Fontaine gets up highest....but heads well over from 12 yards. |
| 12.09pm BST12:09 | 12.09pm BST12:09 |
| 6 min: Free-kick to Hibs in a handy left-sided position, swung in by Allan but well fielded by Bell, who punches. But Hibs come again and Fyvie wins a corner.... | 6 min: Free-kick to Hibs in a handy left-sided position, swung in by Allan but well fielded by Bell, who punches. But Hibs come again and Fyvie wins a corner.... |
| 12.08pm BST12:08 | 12.08pm BST12:08 |
| 4 min: Fast-paced start here as you’d imagine. Hibs really need to score first though, so mustn’t lose their heads. And they have half a chance as a ball flashes across the box and towards Malonga, who can’t control and the ball bounces up and hits Shiels on the arm.....big shouts, but no penalty. | 4 min: Fast-paced start here as you’d imagine. Hibs really need to score first though, so mustn’t lose their heads. And they have half a chance as a ball flashes across the box and towards Malonga, who can’t control and the ball bounces up and hits Shiels on the arm.....big shouts, but no penalty. |
| 12.06pm BST12:06 | 12.06pm BST12:06 |
| 3 min: Early touch for home ‘keeper Mark Oxley, who scored a goal once as I recall, after Hanlon nudges a ball aimed for Vuckic back to him. Then Cummings tries to get in for Hibs but Bell is out sharply to smother at the other end. | 3 min: Early touch for home ‘keeper Mark Oxley, who scored a goal once as I recall, after Hanlon nudges a ball aimed for Vuckic back to him. Then Cummings tries to get in for Hibs but Bell is out sharply to smother at the other end. |
| 12.05pm BST12:05 | 12.05pm BST12:05 |
| Peeeeeeeeep! Off we go! | Peeeeeeeeep! Off we go! |
| Hibs kick us off and, if you’re lying back dreamily with your eyes closed, perhaps you can imagine them kicking from left to right. | Hibs kick us off and, if you’re lying back dreamily with your eyes closed, perhaps you can imagine them kicking from left to right. |
| 12.03pm BST12:03 | 12.03pm BST12:03 |
| We are having a minute’s silence, first of all, for the Leith Battalion members who perished in the Quintinshill rail disaster a century ago. | We are having a minute’s silence, first of all, for the Leith Battalion members who perished in the Quintinshill rail disaster a century ago. |
| 12.01pm BST12:01 | 12.01pm BST12:01 |
| For what it’s worth, I visited Easter Road earlier this season for what ended up being a 1-0 defeat to Falkirk. Hibs played some lovely stuff but, as per their defeat at Ibrox on Wednesday, just couldn’t finish things off. They’ll need to be lean and mean today. | For what it’s worth, I visited Easter Road earlier this season for what ended up being a 1-0 defeat to Falkirk. Hibs played some lovely stuff but, as per their defeat at Ibrox on Wednesday, just couldn’t finish things off. They’ll need to be lean and mean today. |
| 12.00pm BST12:00 | 12.00pm BST12:00 |
| They’re out now. And what a noise they’re greeted by! | They’re out now. And what a noise they’re greeted by! |
| 12.00pm BST12:00 | 12.00pm BST12:00 |
| Sounds like one heck of an atmosphere at Easter Road. The teams are coming out very shortly....or should be. Nobody has emerged yet. How do you see this one playing out? Drop me an email or, of course, a tweet. | Sounds like one heck of an atmosphere at Easter Road. The teams are coming out very shortly....or should be. Nobody has emerged yet. How do you see this one playing out? Drop me an email or, of course, a tweet. |
| 11.47am BST11:47 | 11.47am BST11:47 |
| Some might suggest that this is a big footballing weekend for Sports Direct. Only one of Rangers’ Newcastle loanees is in today’s team, mind you – that man is Haris Vuckic. In terms of team changes, there is one apiece. Lee McCullock replaces Nicky Clark for the visitors and Dylan McGeouch is in for Scott Robertson in the Hibs midfield. | Some might suggest that this is a big footballing weekend for Sports Direct. Only one of Rangers’ Newcastle loanees is in today’s team, mind you – that man is Haris Vuckic. In terms of team changes, there is one apiece. Lee McCullock replaces Nicky Clark for the visitors and Dylan McGeouch is in for Scott Robertson in the Hibs midfield. |
| Updated at 11.48am BST | Updated at 11.48am BST |
| 11.37am BST11:37 | 11.37am BST11:37 |
| The teams | The teams |
| Hibs: Oxley; Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, Stevenson; Craig, Fyvie, Allan, McGeouch; Malonga, Cummings. Subs: Cerny, Robertson, El Alagui, Stanton, Handling, Djedje, Dunsmore. | Hibs: Oxley; Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, Stevenson; Craig, Fyvie, Allan, McGeouch; Malonga, Cummings. Subs: Cerny, Robertson, El Alagui, Stanton, Handling, Djedje, Dunsmore. |
| Rangers: Bell; Foster, McGregor, McCulloch, Zaliukas, Wallace; Vuckic, Murdoch, Shiels, Law; Miller. Subs: Simonsen, Mohsni, Smith, Black, Clark, Crawford, Boyd | Rangers: Bell; Foster, McGregor, McCulloch, Zaliukas, Wallace; Vuckic, Murdoch, Shiels, Law; Miller. Subs: Simonsen, Mohsni, Smith, Black, Clark, Crawford, Boyd |
| 11.37am BST11:37 | 11.37am BST11:37 |
| Hello! | Hello! |
| Play-offs, eh. The great leveller. League form doesn’t mean a jot. Just tell that to Hibs, who beat Rangers 3-1, 4-0 and 2-0 in their first three Championship meetings of this season but appear to have peaked too soon, losing their fourth face-off with the Ibrox side and then, perhaps decisively, going down 2-0 in Wednesday night’s first leg. The winner of the tie will face Premiership strugglers Motherwell in a two-legged struggle for the final spot in next season’s top flight – and would probably be favourites for that one, too. | Play-offs, eh. The great leveller. League form doesn’t mean a jot. Just tell that to Hibs, who beat Rangers 3-1, 4-0 and 2-0 in their first three Championship meetings of this season but appear to have peaked too soon, losing their fourth face-off with the Ibrox side and then, perhaps decisively, going down 2-0 in Wednesday night’s first leg. The winner of the tie will face Premiership strugglers Motherwell in a two-legged struggle for the final spot in next season’s top flight – and would probably be favourites for that one, too. |
| So what hope for Hibs? Well, the fact that they have demolished Rangers a few times already this season will be one – as will the fact that Alan Stubbs’ side played pretty well in the first leg, failing to take a number of chances. Away goals do not count in this competition, so they need not worry about their failure to bag one of those. Just win by two, and see how things pan out from there.... | So what hope for Hibs? Well, the fact that they have demolished Rangers a few times already this season will be one – as will the fact that Alan Stubbs’ side played pretty well in the first leg, failing to take a number of chances. Away goals do not count in this competition, so they need not worry about their failure to bag one of those. Just win by two, and see how things pan out from there.... |
| Rangers, though, should be full of confidence. They have only lost once since February 13, when Hibs beat them at Ibrox, and have the experienced heads to see this one out. It should be a cracking atmosphere at Easter Road in what, despite everything, still feels like a battle of two heavyweights. Only one of them will have a shot at returning to the big time after this, though. I’ve a feeling it could be quite exciting. | Rangers, though, should be full of confidence. They have only lost once since February 13, when Hibs beat them at Ibrox, and have the experienced heads to see this one out. It should be a cracking atmosphere at Easter Road in what, despite everything, still feels like a battle of two heavyweights. Only one of them will have a shot at returning to the big time after this, though. I’ve a feeling it could be quite exciting. |