Rangers vs Hibernian. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox StadiumAttendance49,125.
Rangers 2-1 Hibernian: Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos on target as champions return to Scottish Premiership summit
Match report and highlights as Rangers come from behind to beat ten-man Hibs; Visitors had led at half-time thanks to Kevin Nisbet's early header, only for Ryan Porteous to be sent of for a tackle on Joe Aribo; second-half headers from Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos turned the game around
Monday 4 October 2021 18:16, UK
Second-half headers from Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos saw Rangers come from behind to beat 10-man Hibernian 2-1 at Ibrox and move top of the Scottish Premiership.
The visitors took an eighth-minute lead through Kevin Nisbet's header, only for the game to be turned on its head when Ryan Porteous was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Joe Aribo on the half-hour mark.
The champions then took control and claimed all three points thanks to close-range headers from substitute Roofe (60) and fellow striker Morelos (78) as Steven Gerrard's team went top of the table, while Hibs stay in third.
How Rangers returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership
Gerrard shook his line-up after the midweek defeat to Sparta Prague in the Europa League with six changes.
Defender Connor Goldson returned from a knock to take over the captaincy from James Tavernier, who was replaced by Nathan Patterson at right-back.
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John Lundstram, Ianis Hagi, Scott Wright and Morelos also returned on Armed Forces Day at Ibrox, where members of the Army, Royal Navy and RAF were in attendance.
Jake Doyle-Hayes replaced injured Kyle Magennis in the midfield for Hibs, who started with the assurance of a side yet to lose a league match - and they took an early lead.
It was a simple enough goal coming when midfielder Chris Cadden's deep cross from the right was headed past keeper Allan McGregor from 12 yards by Nisbet, who got away from Lundstram - although there were no Hibs fans inside the stadium to celebrate.
Proceedings, however, took a turn when Porteous was dismissed for flying into a challenge on Aribo.
Hibs midfielder Scott Allan was sacrificed for former Gers defender Darren McGregor, after Ibrox stopper Leon Balogun had screwed a shot wide of the post.
Rangers forced the issue just before the break and immediately afterwards but Hibs defended resolutely.
That was until Roofe replaced Glen Kamara in the 54th minute because five minutes later he had the home side level when he headed in Patterson's looping cross from the right.
The home side kept up the pressure and in the 73rd minute, Matt Macey made a great save from Hagi's drive from the edge of the box.
However, the Hibs keeper had no chance when Borna Barisic's deep cross found Morelos, who headed in off the post.
Ibrox exploded in as much relief as joy, with the home side remaining mostly on top until the nervy final minutes when Hibs went all out, unsuccessfully, for an equaliser.
What the managers said...
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard: "I know one or two things about bad tackles because I have made a few myself, so I am not in a glass house here.
"It's a wild tackle. It's a leg-breaking tackle if he catches him.
"The kid only has to play the ball.
"I don't know why there is any reason that he wants to go in with that intent and it is the second time that he has done it against us because he done it against Lassana Coulibaly not so long ago.
"So the kid is obviously not learning and he has let his manager and his team-mates down today.
"That is obviously Jack's (Hibernian manager Ross) business.
"There is no defending a tackle like that because the speed of it, the height of it and the force doesn't belong on a football pitch.
"I have had to learn over the years myself as a player to learn from those types of moments of madness. So hopefully the kid learns."
Hibs boss Jack Ross: "As it happened I didn't even think it was a foul but that was from my view.
"I then watched it and the first couple of angles I had the same opinion, from the angle behind the goal it doesn't look great.
"But what I don't quite understand is that the match official's view must be the same, he is not watching it from behind the goals.
"But I think Ryan gives him a decision to make.
"I don't necessarily agree with the decision but I can understand why it's given.
"He's got my absolute support. He has made strides in the last year and a half but he's going to have to learn from this one again today."
What's next?
After the international break, Rangers take on Hearts at Ibrox, while Hibs face Dundee United at Easter Road, with both Scottish Premiership games kicking off at 3pm on Saturday Oct 16.
