Rangers’ hopes of automatic promotion back to the Scottish Premiership were dealt a blow following a 3-1 home hammering from promotion rivals Hibernian.
Both teams had been expected to challenge for the title this season following Hibernian’s surprise relegation from the top flight while fallen Glasgow giants Rangers won League One (the third tier) at a canter.
However, the Edinburgh side have struggled to adapt to life in the Championship and came into the game second bottom while Rangers were on a nine-match unbeaten run following their opening day defeat to Hearts, who top the table by six points, as they bid to return to the top flight following a three-year absence.
Hibs showed no signs of their recent troubles though, as they raced into a 3-0 half time lead.
Jason Cummings outpaced Arnold Peralta to chase down a long clearance to open the scoring in the 25th minute while some poor defending allowed David Gray to head home the second six minutes later.
The Rangers defence was then torn to shreds by Dominique Malonga and Lewis Stevenson who combined to set up Cummings for his second of the match in the 39th minute.
Rangers returned revitalised for the second half and Nicky Law sparked a mini-revival when he pulled one back in the 55th minute. Kris Boyd had a late effort disallowed for offside as Hibs held on for a win that moves them up to fifth place and leaves Rangers six points adrift of Hearts.
The final whistle was greeted by loud jeers from the home fans who made their displeasure clear to manager Ally McCoist, who will be under pressure after two home defeats this season to the sides rated as their main challengers in the chase for the one automatic promotion spot.
The Rangers manager was dismayed at the goals his side conceded.
“The goals we lost were as poor as I can recall us conceding. I think we started the game very brightly but then the goalkeeper kicks the ball up the park and we lose a goal – that’s just not on,” McCoist said.
“The second goal was poor and the third goal was a comedy of errors. To come in 3-0 at half-time you need a minor miracle to get back in it and it was too much to do.”
Hibs boss Alan Stubbs was delighted for his players.
“I always believed in them and never doubted them. They have been fantastic since I came in,” Stubbs said.
“I thought the lads took their chances and looked a real threat on the counter and were positive. It’s always nice when you do that that you get results from it.”
A mistake from Peralta cost Rangers the opener. The Honduran midfielder, who was left as the lone man in his own half as Rangers fired a free-kick into the Hibs box, was caught out by a quick clearance from keeper Mark Oxley allowing Cummings to nip in behind him and fire through the legs of Steve Simonsen.
More dire defending from Rangers allowed Hibs to double their advantage. Malonga released Stevenson down the left who sent a cross to the far post where Gray outmuscled Steven Smith to nod past Simonsen from close range.
A crescendo of jeers from the disgruntled home fans greeted Hibs’ third goal in the 39th minute. Once again Malonga tore the defence apart and picked out Stevenson in the box who opted against a shot and instead rolled the ball to Cummings to expertly sidefoot home from 12 yards out.
Law pulled one back for Rangers in the 55th minute. A corner fell to the midfielder on the edge of the box and his vicious half-volley took a slight deflection off a Hibs defender on its way past Oxley.
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