Rangers 1-0 Hibernian: Ianis Hagi strike maintains hosts' unbeaten Scottish Premiership run

Report and free highlights as Ianis Hagi's 33rd-minute effort helps Rangers beats Hibs 1-0 on Boxing Day; Steven Gerrard's side remain unbeaten in this season's Scottish Premiership

Richard Morgan

Football journalist @Richiereds1976

Saturday 26 December 2020 21:31, UK

Ianis Hagi's first-half strike saw Rangers maintain their unbeaten league run this season after edging past Hibernian 1-0 on Boxing Day as Steven Gerrard's side won a 10th straight Scottish Premiership game at Ibrox.

Hagi finished off a brilliant move involving Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo and Kemar Roofe with his third goal in as many games for Rangers, who are 16 points clear of Celtic in second place.

However, Steven Gerrard's side have played three more matches than the champions, while Hibs are fourth in the table.

How Rangers stayed unbeaten

Hibs arrived in Glasgow as the last team to take points off the runaway leaders and the visitors very nearly opened the scoring after just 55 seconds. Josh Doig's cross fund the unmarked Martin Boyle at the far post but he fluffed his lines.

The hosts took time to settle into their work, first going close when the returning Leon Balogun saw his effort cleared off the line by Paul McGinn, before making the breakthrough 12 minutes before half-time.

Kamara, Aribo and Roofe worked the ball nicely down the left, before the latter's centre was swept home from six yards out by Hagi as Rangers' pressure finally told.

In reality, Rangers would have won more comfortably had it not been for an impressive display in goal by Dillon Barnes, who did brilliantly to keep out Connor Goldson's close-range header before the break.

The 'keeper, one of four changes made by Hibs boss Jack Ross, did even better midway through the second period when again showing impressive reflexes to thwart Balogun after another corner fell invitingly for a Rangers defender.

As a result of those stops, the hosts endured a tense finale, but hung on to as they recorded a 16th clean sheet in 20 top-flight encounters this season.

What the managers said...

Steven Gerrard: "Hibs did extremely well to stay in the game. Jack (Ross) sets them up extremely well and they always carry a threat because they've got good players.

"But I've got even more praise for my team for getting over the line and winning it because we knew it was going to be a tough challenge. We've stood up to that and managed it extremely well.

"If you don't get that second goal you're going to get a few nervy moments towards the end - but it's a big win, clean sheet and 12 on the spin now, so I'm really happy.

"Resilience and character are a must. If we want to go the distance it's not always going to be easy. You know you're going to have to rely on your big players to stand up and be counted and I thought we did.

"Borna Barisic has made a match-saving block to maintain maximum points, Allan McGregor comes and takes an important cross, so everyone is standing up and doing their roles.

"We're in a much better place than we have been previously when faced with this situation because, recruitment-wise, we've got much better players in the door now with all due respect."

Jack Ross: "The second one is a penalty. I've had the benefit of watching it again and it is clear cut... it's very obvious that it is a penalty.

"But we didn't get it so we have to move on from it.

"We are trying to grow and foster a mentality at the club where we are not happy to lose matches, so we are disappointed we have not taken anything from the game.

"But it's a day for tempering that with pride in large parts of our performance. I thought we were excellent in how hard we made Rangers work for their victory in a stadium where they have been relentless this season."

Man of the Match - Dillon Barnes

The on-loan Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper was handed a start by Jack Ross and he rewarded his manager with a fine Boxing Day performance at Ibrox.

The 24-year-old initially kept Rangers at bay with some eye-catching first-half stops, in particular one brilliant reaction save to keep out Connor Goldson's powerful header.

Once the Scottish Premiership leaders did take the lead, the 'keeper still produced a number of excellent second-half saves to keep his team in the contest, including one miraculous stop to somehow prevent Leon Balogun's close-range shot from finding the net.