Hibernian 2-2 Rangers: Nine-man visitors succumb to last-gasp equaliser

Josh Campbell swerved in an excellent injury-time equaliser towards nine-man Rangers as Hibernian halted the Ibrox aspect’s 100% Scottish Premiership begin.

Martin Boyle had cancelled out James Tavernier’s penalty opener, earlier than Tom Lawrence’s header restored the lead for Rangers, who now head to Eindhoven for his or her Champions League date with future towards PSV.

While Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s aspect have spilled league factors for the primary time this season after three straight wins, Hibs salvaged a dramatic draw for the second house sport operating.

The drudgery of a lot of the primary half gave little trace of the fireworks to come. The opening aim on the cusp of the interval was a present to Rangers, who regarded flat following their energy-sapping 2-2 first-leg draw with PSV 4 days prior.

Neither aspect had mustered a shot on course till Rocky Bushiri inexplicably tugged the shirt of Antonio Colak as a Ryan Porteous passback rolled safely again to goalkeeper David Marshall.

Colak was getting nowhere the ball, and his dive was a contact theatrical, however Tavernier capitalised on Bushiri’s folly by tucking the penalty past the grasp of Marshall into the far nook of the online.

Hibs’ most noteworthy second had been Lee Johnson making a double substitution earlier than the half hour, with Ewan Henderson – on a reserving – and Paul Hanlon sacrificed for Marijan Cabraja and Christian Doidge as Hibs switched from a again three to a 4.

It would find yourself paying dramatic dividends as Campbell was free of his makeshift wing-back function and deployed in his favoured midfield slot.

Hibs had managed simply two touches within the Rangers field earlier than half-time, however hauled themselves stage in fashion. Elie Youan left Tavernier trailing down the left and his cutback was deftly turned in by Boyle to crown the primary begin of his second Hibs spell.

Parity lasted simply seven minutes although. Borna Barisic’s cross was crying out for a taker and Lawrence met it flush on the brow to restore Rangers’ lead.

Referee Willie Collum then took centre stage, dismissing Lundstram for cynically catching Boyle on the ankle to halt a counter-attack. While that regarded extraordinarily harsh, Morelos might have few complaints for his Seventy fifth-minute straight pink after swinging an arm into the face of Cabraja.

Hibs started to hammer away on the Rangers defence and Jon McLaughlin fantastically foiled a near-post header from Lewis Miller earlier than Bushiri’s shot bounced agonisingly huge off a team-mate.

But because the clock ticked into the 93rd minute, Campbell coolly managed on his chest 25 yards out and left McLaughlin helpless with an unerring end.

Man of the match – Josh Campbell

Morelos indiscipline so expensive – evaluation

Van Bronckhorst might hardly have imagined a extra chaotic pre-cursor to his aspect’s colossal European mission. Trying to repel Hibs’ avalanche of late stress with 9 males can have taken a toll on legs that already appeared weary.

Morelos has largely curbed his indiscipline – the Colombia striker’s earlier Rangers pink card got here in March 2019 – however his impetuousness resurfaced to value the group expensive.

It will do nothing to persuade Van Bronckhorst that he deserves to reclaim a beginning place from Antonio Colak, who was nicely beneath his greatest at Easter Road as his run of scoring in 4 successive video games spluttered to an finish.

Hibs boss Johnson confirmed he is not afraid to rip up the game-plan, along with his group trying extra snug as soon as they reverted to a well-recognized 4 on the again.

However, they struggled for attacking cohesion for lengthy spells till the pink playing cards tilted the sport of their favour. Boyle and Youan linked fantastically for the hosts’ first aim, and the Swiss ahead appears way more appropriate on the wing than central.

Bushiri’s rush of the blood to the pinnacle needlessly left Hibs trailing on the interval. And whereas the defender confirmed character to put the error behind him, he should minimize out the foolish errors which have pockmarked his early Easter Road profession.

What did they are saying?

Hibs supervisor Lee Johnson:“We had been poor within the first half. At half-time, we simply strengthened the philosophy, we’ve got to play on the entrance foot, to be aggressive.

“I’m not completely happy. There’s extra to do. We want just a few ready-made gamers. I’ve now had a great have a look at the extent. I count on us to compete much better than we did within the first half.”

Rangers manger Giovanni van Bronckhorst: “After the 2 pink playing cards, it was going to be very troublesome. We could not hold the ball and it was all about defending.

“We work arduous to attempt to keep away from the aim towards us however we simply fell brief. It [Lundstram’s red] was a bit harsh as a result of he fouled him however there was no intention to harm him.”

What’s subsequent?

Rangers are within the Netherlands on Wednesday to face PSV of their Champions League play-off second leg (20:00 BST). They’re then again on Premiership obligation towards Ross County subsequent Saturday (15:00), with Hibs away to St Mirren on the similar time.