A makeshift Rangers team slumped to their second League defeat of
the season with a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Hibernian at Easter Road
today.
With no fewer than ten regulars absent through injury it was no surprise
that only three of Dick Advocaat's preferred eleven started the game -
Lorenzo Amoruso, Barry Ferguson and Jorg Albertz.
Before kick-off a one-minute silence as a mark of respect for
Scotland's First Minister Donald Dewar was immaculately observed.
Rangers were kitted out in their new strip of red shirts, red shorts and
white socks - but it was Hibs who were first to settle with Amoruso's
mistimed header almost gifting an opening g for David Zitelli - the
French striker (who once scored two goals for Strasbourg at Ibrox)
forcing youngster Mark Brown into a fine save, tipping the ball over the
crossbar.
The home side continued to press with Zitelli again coming close with a
20-yard shot that was just too high - but there were loud appeals for a
penalty at the other end when Peter Lovenkrand's mazy run ended
when he was upended only for Referee Kenny Clark to wave aside the
claim.
The home side were up for it in a big way with Russell Latapy attacking
the Rangers defence in the 18th minute before his twenty-yard shot
flew just wide - but the opening goal was only delayed a further four
minutes when a misplaced pass in midfield by Tugay enabled John
O'Neil to release Zitelli with an incisive pass which the Frenchman
converted from a wide angle.
There was a poisonous atmosphere of hate and hostility inside Easter
Road with the home fans provocatively waving the Irish Tricolour and
at least one sad soul wearing a Celtic top. Rangers came close to an
equaliser in 34 minutes when Tony Vidmar's header from an inswinging
Albertz corner was blocked on the line - but although the Light Blues
were coming more and more into the game they seldom threatened the
Hibs goal before the interval, although Billy Dodds should have done
better than fire wide from the edge of the box from a Sergio Porrini
cross in the dying seconds of the half.
Dick Advocaat made two changes before the start of the second half -
replacing Sergio Porrini and Alan Johnston with Andrei Kanchelskis and
Kenny Miller, the former Hibs player being roundly booed by the home
fans. Thus Porrini's first outing for two months had lasted just 45
minutes.
The balance of play was held by Rangers as the second-half progressed
but a Hibs defence that has conceded just one goal at home this season
(and only five overall) was not going to be easily breached - although
the Ibrox men did have a strong penalty appeal dismissed by the
Referee on the hour when Kanchelskis appeared to be upended by
Frank Sauzee as he homed in on goal. To add insult to injury the
Russian winger was yellow-carded for an alleged dive.
Hibernian remained dangerous on the counter-attack with Gary Smith's
25-yard chip hitting the top of the crossbar sixty seconds later - but the
action returned to Nick Colgan's beat three minutes on when offside
denied Barry Ferguson an equaliser from Jorg Albertz's pass.
The game flared up angrily with fifteen minutes remaining when Tugay
played on as Ulrik Laursen lay injured, causing the Turkish midfielder to
be surrounded by furious Hibs players - although Laursen (or Lazarus)
quick made a miraculous recovery, though not before Barry Ferguson
was booked for dissent, a caution which takes him over the suspension
limit.
Rangers were reduced to ten men in 81 minutes when Kanchelskis
received his second yellow-card for a late tackle on Laursen, but the
Champions nevertheless pressed incessantly in the closing minutes with
Lovenkrands missing an absolute sitter with just four minutes remaining
when presented with a golden opportunity on the edge of the box
following a mix-up between Nick Colgan and Paul Fenwick.
In the last minute Jorg Albertz had the ball in the net after a cross from
the left only for the goal to be chopped off for the second time in the
game.
Rangers manager Dick Advocaat afterwards described the afternoon
as frustrating. "I felt that we created more chances an controlled the
game after going one down but decisions went against us." Whilst
reluctant to criticise referee Kenny Clark Advocaat nevertheless
described some of the yellow cards and Kanchelskis' red card as
"cheap".
Advocaat however aid tribute to Hibs who had worked very hard for
their win and admitted that Rangers had perhaps had the luck in their
last two visits to Easter Road. Looking ahead to Tuesday he hoped that
Stefan Klos, Claudio Reyna, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ronald De
Boer would all return.
Thus Rangers now trail Celtic by six points, having lost as many league
games after ten fixtures as they suffered throughout the whole of last
year's campaign. It's going to be a long haul back to the top of the table.
