Sports Update 5 days ago ⏱ 4 min read

Rangers 1-2 Hibernian: Callum Wright's late winner leaves Derek McInnes waiting for first win

Rangers 1-2 Hibernian: Callum Wright's late winner leaves Derek McInnes waiting for first win
Rangers 1-2 Hibernian: Callum Wright's late winner leaves Derek McInnes waiting for first win (BBCRangers 1-2 Hibernian: Derek Mc)
Derek McInnes' wait for his first win as Rangers manager goes on after Hibernian claimed back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins at Ibrox and their third win there in as many seasons thanks to Callum Wright's late breakaway goal.

It leaves Rangers five points behind leaders and reigning champions Celtic after just two games, while Hibs' first league victory of the new season moves them up to seventh.

That scenario seemed highly unlikely when visiting midfielder Miguel Chaiwa deflected substitute Djeidi Gassama's cross beyond his own goalkeeper with just minutes of normal time left.

Initially, the sides were only separated by Josh Campbell's early penalty, converted after video assistant referee Ross Macleod brought Don Robertson over to the pitchside monitor.

It was an award that came as a surprise to every single person in the stadium. Not the first start for which recent signing Vanja Dragojevic was hoping on his Ibrox debut, penalised and booked for holding Jason Kerr in the box following a Hibs corner.

The resultant spot-kick was gleefully tucked away by Campbell to give Hibs a 12th-minute lead and pile the pressure on the home side.

They responded in fits and starts, with Dragojevic nearly making amends with an impressive long-range effort that dipped just wide of the Hibs goal and Kanayo Megwa making a terrific goal-line block to deny Youssef Chermiti a leveller.

Much worse was to follow for the former Portugal Under-21 striker. On the day the club turned down a record bid for the forward, he had to be taken off on a stretcher moments after Raphael Sallinger made a good save from a Tuur Rommens shot.

Chermiti's efforts to keep the ball alive on the goal-line ended with him clattering into an advertising board behind the goal and his game was over before half-time.

Rangers laid siege to the Hibs goal after the break, with only a series of brave blocks and good saves from Sallinger keeping the home side at bay.

Home captain Lawrence Shankland ought to have claimed his first goal for his new side, but his close-range shot was deflected by Sallinger on to the crossbar.

Hibs were disciplined enough in their defensive shape to frustrate their hosts, who lacked both the clinical edge and the creativity to breach the visitors' backline.

Continued frustration, then, for McInnes, who is winless in his first three matches in charge and had to listen to a round of boos as his side left the field.

For Hibs, joy unconfined as head coach David Gray danced down the touchline after Wright's late, late winner sent the visiting support back along the M8 with big smiles on their faces.

Rangers huffed and puffed and will count themselves unlucky to leave with nothing, but they also did not have enough of a cutting edge - or the requisite amount of genuine quality - to give the fans what they wanted: a home win and the first victory of the McInnes era.

New signings Daisuke Yokota and Vanja Dragojevic looked good in flashes, but neither lasted the full match and both will need more time to adapt to their new surroundings and team-mates.

A largely flat opening spell gave way to a much more energetic second period for McInnes' men - they had plenty of possession and created a good few chances but just could not find a way past a stubborn home defence and a good visiting goalkeeper. Until the late own goal, of course.

Hibs will feel this was a merited win, even though they did not overly trouble the Rangers defence.

Given the opportunity to get their noses in front by the video assistant referee, they defended like their lives depended on it, particularly in the second half when Rangers threw the kitchen sink at them.

A brave, solid defensive display and a ruthlessness in front of goal got Hibs all three points.

Two chances, two goals, one from the penalty spot. If Hibs show this determination all season, they will be absolutely fine.

Related Coverage

  • Innes remains winless as Callum Wright nets late winner — Sky Sports
  • Rangers vs Hibernian predictions, 3-1 Bet Builder tip, team news and odds — Racing Post
  • Scottish Premiership LIVE: Kilmarnock v Celtic, Rangers v Hibernian, Hearts v Dundee United & Motherwell v Falkirk — BBCRangers 1-2 Hibernian: What Mc
  • Innes said — BBC

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