Rangers poor start to the season continues
Rangers 1 - 2 Hibernian
Derek McInnes' wait for his first win as Rangers manager goes on after Hibernian secured back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories at Ibrox
Author | Mark Lee
Stadium | Ibrox
The result leaves Rangers five points behind the leaders and reigning champions Celtic after only two games, while Hibs' first league victory of the new season lifts them to seventh.
That scenario seemed highly unlikely when visiting midfielder Miguel Chaiwa deflected substitute Djeidi Gassama's cross past his own goalkeeper with only minutes of normal time remaining.
Until then, the sides had been separated by Josh Campbell's early penalty, converted after the video assistant referee Ross Macleod sent Don Robertson to the pitchside monitor.
It was a decision that came as a surprise to almost everyone inside Ibrox. It was hardly the first start Vanja Dragojevic had envisaged on his Rangers debut, with the recent signing penalised and booked for holding Jason Kerr in the area following a Hibs corner.
Campbell made no mistake from the spot, sending the penalty away with relish to give Hibs a 12th-minute lead and pile the pressure on the hosts.
Rangers responded in fits and starts, with Dragojevic almost making amends with an impressive long-range effort that dipped narrowly wide of the Hibs goal. Kanayo Megwa then produced a superb goal-line block to deny Youssef Chermiti an equaliser.
Things got considerably worse for the former Portugal Under-21 striker. On a day when the club rejected a record bid for the forward, Chermiti was forced off on a stretcher shortly after Raphael Sallinger had produced a good save from a Tuur Rommens effort.
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Chermiti's attempt to keep the ball alive on the goal-line ended with him crashing into an advertising board behind the goal. His afternoon was over before half-time.
Rangers laid siege to the Hibs goal after the interval
A succession of brave blocks and fine saves from Sallinger kept the home side at bay.
Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland looked certain to score his first goal for his new club, only for Sallinger to divert his close-range effort on to the crossbar.
Hibs were disciplined in their defensive shape and frustrated their hosts, who lacked both the clinical finishing and creativity required to find a way through the visitors' backline.
The frustration continued for McInnes, who remains without a victory after his first three matches in charge and had to endure a chorus of boos as his team left the pitch.
For Hibs, it was unconfined joy
Head coach David Gray danced down the touchline after Wright's very late winner sent the visiting supporters back along the M8 with broad smiles on their faces.


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