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Sports

Rangers are four games from an unbeaten Scottish Premiership season after holding on for victory over Hibernian.

By : cd on 12 Apr 2021, 08:58     |     Source: bbcsport

Rangers

Joe Aribo’s volley and a Ryan Kent strike were enough for Steven Gerrard’s side, who secured the title last month with six matches to spare.

Kevin Nisbet’s header halved the deficit in the closing stages.

But Hibs could not prevent Rangers extending their 100% home record in the league with a 17th win prior to a visit from Celtic in the Scottish Cup.

The visitors’ first Premiership defeat in three leaves them with a four-point cushion on Aberdeen in the battle to finish third.

Hibs had already run Rangers close this season, with a 2-2 home draw followed by 1-0 defeats at Ibrox and Easter Road.

They limited the hosts in a low-key opening before Kemar Roofe slid home a delivery from his Rangers strike partner Alfredo Morelos, but he had strayed a yard offside.

Hibs’ reprieve lasted barely a minute. After Ofir Marciano palmed away a Roofe header the visitors failed to clear their lines and when the ball fell to Aribo he lashed home an angled volley from six yards.

Rangers had conceded just two league goals at Ibrox this season, yet Hibs should have been level by half-time.

Nisbet was inches from an equaliser with a strike he sent whistling past the far post. Martin Boyle did likewise moments later, with Allan McGregor deemed to have tipped it wide.

And from the resultant corner Paul Hanlon had the best chance of the lot when he rose unmarked to put a header the wrong side of the post.

Gerrard’s side were below their best, but doubled the lead with a terrific Kent strike. The winger darted along the edge of the box, leaving Joe Newell and Alex Gogic trailing, to arrow a drive past the helpless Marciano into the bottom corner.

McGregor parried a Boyle effort then tipped a 25-yard Nisbet free-kick away from the top corner as Hibs sought a response.

Ryan Porteous had a headed goal disallowed for a foul in the penalty area, but Jack Ross’ men got the goal they deserved when Nisbet superbly glanced home a deep Paul McGinn cross.

Their push for an equaliser came to nothing as Rangers comfortably held out to ensure a winning warm-up for Saturday’s Old firm showdown.