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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) | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Updated at 12.45pm BST | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Updated at 12.34pm BST | |
| 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. | |
| 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! | |
| 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. | |
| 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?” | |
| If it helps distract you from the impending terror, Roderick, yes you may. | |
| Updated at 12.49pm BST | |
| 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. | |
| 12.24pm BST12:24 | |
| Key for Hibs during this spell: scoring! | |
| Ewan is right. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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? | |
| 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. | |
| 12.13pm 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. |