Rangers prove four days is a long time in football

13 April 2012

Hibernian surged to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League as Rangers' title hopes suffered another blow.

David Murphy's header in the second half proved to be the difference between the two teams at Ibrox today.

Heads you lose: David Murphy heads home for Hibs

The 1-0 victory allowed Hibs to complete an Old Firm double, following their win over Celtic a fortnight ago.

Both camps had plenty of reason for optimism, Rangers' confidence high following their superb 3-0 win over Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday - while Hibs are the only undefeated team in the SPL.

Walter Smith made three changes from the side who triumphed in Europe. In came Kris Boyd, Steven Whittaker and Charlie Adam; out went Daniel Cousin, Lee McCulloch and DaMarcus Beasley.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in Smith's team selection was that Brahim Hemdani held on to his place in the team.

Hibs also made changes following their emphatic 4-1 victory over Kilmarnock last week. Chris Hogg recovered from a hip injury to claim a starting berth along with Mickael Antoine-Curier, while Darren McCormack and Filipe Morais dropped to the bench.

Chances were few and far between early on.

Both teams displayed some nice passing movement at times, but there was little action at either goal.

It was a set-piece which provided Rangers with their first opportunity to put Hibs under pressure when Brian Kerr clattered into Adam just outside the box - but he was wasteful with the resultant free-kick.

Barry Ferguson then tried his luck with a left-footed shot from 18 yards, which was comfortably blocked by goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay.

Adam could have made amends for his earlier miss when he pounced on a Boyd knock-down only to blast well over the bar, with Ma-Kalambay untroubled in the Hibs goal.

The opening 45 minutes was largely uninspiring - but Rangers could have snatched the opener on the stroke of half-time when an Alan Hutton cross was punched by Ma-Kalambay into the path of Adam, who fired across the face of goal and past the upright.

Clayton Donaldson was withdrawn for Morais at the interval, while Rangers persisted with the same 11 players for the second half.

The opening spell provided some much-needed entertainment when Hogg and Guillaume Beuzelin combined to fell Hutton on the edge of the box.

Kevin Thomson played the free-kick short to Ferguson, who teed up the shot for Boyd - but his long, low effort was smothered by the Hibs goalkeeper.

Then, just as he had done in the first half, Ma-Kalambay swiped a Hutton cross into the path of Adam - only this time the goalkeeper was forced to tip the rebound over the bar.

The game was crying out for a goal, and it was Hibs who obliged after 61 minutes.

Morais swung a corner into the packed goalmouth, and Murphy connected to nod past Allan McGregor.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Rangers threw McCulloch and Steven Naismith on in place of Thomson and Whittaker.

The home side then saw their pleas for a penalty ignored by the referee Kenny Clark, after claiming a Boyd header had been handled in the box by Rob Jones.

Rangers should have restored parity when Carlos Cuellar pounced on an Adam free-kick - but he somehow managed to nod wide of a gaping goal as Hibs held on.

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