Nikica Jelavic’s brace against Hibernian allowed Rangers to keep a gap between themselves and Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League, following a 2-0 win at Easter Road.
In a slow-burner of a game on Saturday lunchtime, chances were very scarce in the first half. However, after the break, Croatian international Jelavic bagged a double - the first of which was from a penalty - to make up for something of a non-appearance from the majority of the side in blue before the interval.
A floodlight fire at Motherwell deprived recently-appointed Hibs boss Pat Fenlon a first win at the club last weekend, and his side are still looking after both they and Rangers failed to get a proper hold of the game in Saturday’s first half.
Lewis Stevenson fired an early shot wide for Fenlon’s men but yellow cards were more frequent than chances over the opening 45 minutes.
Hibernian did have another of their own just before the break. Former Hearts defender Lee Wallace failed to cut out Ivan Sproule’s cross into the area, leaving Leigh Griffiths with time and space to get a shot in. Allan McGregor, however, was right behind it.
After a bruising first half the league leaders’ ideas needed bucking up as the sides came back out for the second half, yet for a while Hibs continued to do what little pressing that was being done.
However, everything changed as the hour mark passed. Without Ally McCoist’s men having yet had a shot on target, they were awarded a penalty.
Wallace was the player attacking, the Gers man seeing his arm wedged between the arm and body of Michael Hart, which was enough for referee Iain Brines to dish out the spot kick. Jelavic stepped up and the forward sent the ball home just inside Graham Stack’s right-hand post.
The goal brought the game to life, with Fenlon’s side going up the other end where a Sproule free-kick went just over the bar from Paul Hanlon’s flying header. Rangers then had another chance of their own when young substitute Thomas Bendiksen was involved in setting up Gregg Wylde, but Hart cleared.
Jelavic sealed the win in the 69th minute. Hibs did not help themselves as their defending was non-existent from Wylde’s corner, allowing the former Rapid Vienna man to head easily beyond the marooned Stack.
Hanlon’s deflected cross almost allowed his team back in, but McGregor managed to claw it to safety as it looked to dip over his crossbar.
A consolation goal for the hosts would not come and the defending champions, without ever looking awesome, were able to leave Easter Road with three more points.