Hibernian rein in Rangers with Easter Road victoryPaul Hanlon's winner killed off Rangers manager Mark Warburton's 100 per cent Ladbrokes Championship record and lifted Hibernian back into the race for automatic promotion.Rangers were looking to extend their 11-match unbeaten run and with it the lead at the top of the table to 11 points, but it was Alan Stubbs' men who claimed a crucial 2-1 win at Easter Road.Jason Cummings fired his team in front inside the first quarter of an hour but Rangers equalised just after half-time when Lee Wallace's strike was deflected home by former Ibrox team-mate Darren McGregor.The visitors came close to a winner when Nathan Oduwa's low shot struck the post but it was Hanlon's header 17 minutes from time which trimmed Rangers' lead back to just five points.Hibs knew defeat would leave them looking at the play-offs at best for a Premiership return even at this early stage of the season, so Stubbs sent out a side intent on attacking as he picked midfielder Fraser Fyvie ahead of defender Liam Fontaine.Warburton hoped to combat that threat by recalling Danny Wilson as he went for a three-man defenceIt was a ploy that worked well for former Rangers boss Stuart McCall when he visited Easter Road last season and the new manager wanted a repeat.But Wilson - dropped in recent weeks - got off to a nightmare start.He was lucky to get away with a few lapses of concentration early on but there was no let-off 11 minutes in as Cummings collected a throw-in from David Gray before spinning past Wilson's lame attempt to get close
The defender was then made to watch as Cummings flashed a sensational strike into the corner of Wes Foderingham's net from the edge of the box.It was the climax to a breathless opening that had already seen Ibrox skipper Wallace go close after drilling a low strike just wide.The goal settled play down for a period but it soon sparked again.Rangers full-back James Tavernier was denied by Mark Oxley while Dominique Malonga scooped a shot wide for Hibs.Gers had been far from at their best during the opening 45 minutes with Wallace and Tavernier struggling to adapt to Warburton's tinkering.But they got lucky within 90 seconds of the second half
Wallace's strike from 20 yards out was heading wide before it clipped McGregor and flew past the wrong-footed Oxley.The action was soon end-to-end
Hibs midfielder John McGinn slammed into the side-netting, while Oxley had to produce another fine save to keep out Martyn Waghorn before McGregor made amends for his part in the equaliser by deflecting Wallace's effort on the follow-up against the bar.Wilson was replaced by Oduwa after an hour as Rangers returned to their usual back four, but McGinn's ball over the top cut out the lot as Cummings raced away
Foderingham stood up well to parry his shot, though.Rangers were next to threaten as Oduwa curled an effort onto the base of the post.But it was Hibs who struck the decisive blow after 73 minutes
Foderingham did well to tip over a McGinn free-kick but the goalkeeper was caught flapping as the former St Mirren midfielder swept the resulting corner over his head, leaving Hanlon to strike the winner.Rangers substitute Dean Shiels volleyed over near the end while there was a flare-up when Fyvie dived in on Barrie McKay, but Hibs held out to ensure the title race rumbles on
Source : PA
Source: PA