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Rangers will not overreact – Gerrard

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Rangers will not overreact – Gerrard

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Rangers will not “overreact or get too frustrated” despite being held to a gripping 2-2 draw by Hibernian, says boss Steven Gerrard.

The visitors lost their first domestic goals of the season but moved top of the Scottish Premiership by a point.

Christian Doidge nodded home to earn Hibs a draw after Alfredo Morelos and Scott Arfield overturned Drey Wright’s opener.

“It’s two points dropped,” Gerrard told Sky Sports.

“We always have to react, win, lose or draw. So we’ll go away and debrief this game, speak to the individuals who have made the errors. But there’s no time to overreact or get too frustrated. We’ve got a big game on Thursday to prepare for.”

Rangers, who are a point clear of Celtic having played a game more, bossed a tumultuous opening quarter. Morelos spurned a fine chance to break the deadlock 10 minutes in when he skewed a free header wide from Ianis Hagi’s corner five yards out.

It took a while for third-placed Hibs to awaken as an attacking force, but when they did, it was telling. Kevin Nisbet chested down Wright’s searching ball on the edge of the Rangers box, swivelled and powered a volley across Jon McLaughlin, drawing a fine save from the goalkeeper.

Then came their opener, Nisbet flicking on down the right flank to Boyle, whose square ball was stabbed between the legs of McLaughlin by the arriving Wright. It was the midfielder’s first goal in 764 days and it was a huge moment for Jack Ross’ men.

Rangers rallied, but chances to level were fleeting. It was down to Morelos, as it so often is, to deliver. The Colombia striker was inconspicuous for much of the first half, but he eventually came alive inside the Hibs box.

Left unmarked at the back post by Martin Boyle, he cushioned an immaculate Ryan Kent cross before prodding past Ofir Marciano. The goal was the first Hibs had conceded in open play this season.

Drey Wright graphic

Rangers surged ahead 12 minutes into the new half. Wonderful interplay between Arfield and Hagi, the latter’s return ball to Arfield particularly special, put the midfielder in to slot home.

Marciano turned a powerful shot from Kent away on the hour as Rangers tore into Hibs on the break, but the hosts were far from dead and buried, still capable of wounding raids downfield.

McLaughlin saved from Ryan Porteous at the near post and the rebound fell agonisingly behind Nisbet.

There was no stopping Doidge, though, the Welshman galloping towards the far post to meet a sumptuous Boyle cross. Replays showed the Hibs winger was offside when he picked up possession on the edge of the area.

Rangers laid siege to the home box at the end, Gerrard sending for Jermain Defoe and Cedric Itten in a desperate quest for more firepower and a telling goal.

Hibs rocked at times, defending with passion and steel if not perfect technique. Marciano’s fabulous double-save from Arfield, who looked odds-on to score, and a series of headers, hoofs and blocks sealed an impressive point.

Man of the match – Ianis Hagi

Ianis Hagi clashes with Paul Hanlon
Hagi was at the heart of much of Rangers’ incisive attacking play, teeing up Arfield for the second goal

What did we learn?

All too often, Hibs have been overrun in midfield by the more proficient attacking units in the top flight. They showed far greater bite and stamina this time, with Joe Newell especially industrious and tidy on the ball, but Ross could still use more dynamism in the central area.

For the first time this season, Rangers were asked serious questions, challenged with coming from behind against one of the Premiership’s form teams. They responded well, seizing control of the contest after falling behind, but their failure to convert dominance into goals and points was a crucial flaw last season. In the context of the title race, Gerrard will view this as a missed opportunity.

What they said

Hibernian head coach Jack Ross: “To show so many sides of our game and take something from it is really pleasing.

“I’ve got a group of players who are satisfied but they wanted to win the match. They are recognising that they are a good side. Belief is growing all the time.”

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard on Sky Sports: “Going forward, I liked a lot about our play today. But to concede two goals is poor from us. I’m disappointed in the manner we’ve conceded the two goals but we’ve done enough going forward to win the game.”

Player of the match

NisbetKevin Nisbet

Hibernian

  1. Squad number15Player nameNisbet

  2. Squad number1Player nameMarciano

  3. Squad number9Player nameDoidge

  4. Squad number10Player nameBoyle

  5. Squad number13Player nameGogic

  6. Squad number8Player nameWright

  7. Squad number6Player nameMcGinn

  8. Squad number4Player nameHanlon

  9. Squad number5Player namePorteous

  10. Squad number11Player nameNewell

  11. Squad number25Player nameDoig

  12. Squad number16Player nameStevenson

  13. Squad number20Player nameHallberg

Rangers

  1. Squad number33Player nameMcLaughlin

  2. Squad number14Player nameKent

  3. Squad number37Player nameArfield

  4. Squad number7Player nameHagi

  5. Squad number2Player nameTavernier

  6. Squad number20Player nameMorelos

  7. Squad number31Player nameBarisic

  8. Squad number10Player nameDavis

  9. Squad number9Player nameDefoe

  10. Squad number5Player nameHelander

  11. Squad number18Player nameKamara

  12. Squad number6Player nameGoldson

  13. Squad number11Player nameItten

Line-ups

Hibernian

  • 1Marciano
  • 6McGinnBooked at 60mins
  • 5PorteousBooked at 35mins
  • 4HanlonBooked at 37mins
  • 10BoyleBooked at 80mins
  • 8WrightSubstituted forHallbergat 90′minutes
  • 13Gogic
  • 11Newell
  • 25DoigSubstituted forStevensonat 63′minutes
  • 9Doidge
  • 15Nisbet

Substitutes

  • 2Gray
  • 14Mallan
  • 16Stevenson
  • 19Gullan
  • 20Hallberg
  • 22McGinn
  • 24McGregor
  • 29Shanley
  • 33Barnes

Rangers

  • 33McLaughlin
  • 2Tavernier
  • 6Goldson
  • 5Helander
  • 31Barisic
  • 10Davis
  • 18KamaraSubstituted forIttenat 85′minutes
  • 37Arfield
  • 7HagiSubstituted forDefoeat 75′minutes
  • 20MorelosBooked at 90mins
  • 14Kent

Substitutes

  • 1McGregor
  • 3Bassey
  • 4Edmundson
  • 9Defoe
  • 11Itten
  • 16Patterson
  • 22Jones
  • 26Balogun
  • 36Barjonas

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