HIBS 0 RANGERS 0 Lack of bite up front comes back to haunt Rangers boss Danny Rohl ... but at least his team escaped with a point
Danny Rohl was crystal clear about which area of his squad needed improving when he spoke after last Thursday’s Europa League defeat to Porto.
Even after watching his defence fall to bits in Portugal, he insisted that boosting the forward area was of far greater concern.
Sunday's toothless display in Edinburgh proved him right. Make no mistake, this was a lucky escape against a Hibs side who really should have been celebrating their first top-flight victory over the Ibrox side since 2006.
Had David Gray’s players got the goal - or goals - they deserved, Rohl’s men wouldn’t have found a way back into the contest.
The visitors barely laid a glove on their hosts all afternoon, and it wasn’t just Youssef Chermiti’s fault this time. True, the habitual scapegoat once again did nothing to suggest he can lead the line. But, to be fair to the lad, what is he expected to do when the service is so poor?
It would be daft to cast judgment on Andreas Skov Olsen this early in his Rangers career. Just in the door or not, however, the team need far more from him.
Youseff Chermiti looks crestfallen after Rangers failed to score at Easter Road on Sunday
Danny Rohl reflects on two precious points dropped in the Premiership title race
Youssef Chermiti and Mikey Moore react as the latter's 'goal' is ruled out for offside
Just like against Dundee last time out, the 40-times capped Denmark winger offered nothing. Likewise Djeidi Gassama on the opposite flank.
Thelo Aasgaard at least looked interested. The number of times he takes the wrong option is criminal, though.
If reports are to be believed, Southampton forward Cameron Archer is set for a move north. With a stark lack of creativity in the final third, would he really be able to do much better?
Look, Rohl has done a magnificent job since replacing Russell Martin in October. No one in their right mind could have predicted Rangers would be involved in a title race in the first week of February.
But let’s not pretend it’s been swashbuckling stuff the whole way. Even during their recent eight-game unbeaten run, they were a tough watch.
The team are a long way off where Rohl wants them do be. And yet, given the way this madcap Premiership campaign has unfolded, they are still right in the mix despite leaders Hearts enjoying a six-point lead.
A couple of savvy additions might just do the trick. The manager has already shown he can win in a variety of ways - it’s one of his most impressive attributes.
However, on days like this, the absence of a real difference-maker could return to haunt him.
Andreas Skov Olsen goes past Jordan Obita, but the new Rangers player failed to make an impact at Easter Road
Joe Newell misses a golden opportunity to put Hibs in front against Rangers on Sunday
Rangers defender John Souttar goes close as the Ibrox side try to snatch victory at Easter Road
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges at Easter Road, and got their first sight of goal within three minutes.
Aasgaard couldn’t quite believe how much time he had on the edge of the box to get a shot away. A deflection sent it wide.
There was no place in the Hibs starting line-up for new recruits Dane Scarlett, Owen Elding or Kai Andrews, but the latter didn’t have to wait long for his introduction, replacing Miguel Chaiwa on the 10-minute mark after the midfielder pulled up injured.
He took a while to get up to the speed of things but, once he settled, he was excellent. The 19-year-old hasn’t been given a chance at promotion-chasing Coventry this season. Early indications suggest he will see far more action in Edinburgh.
Chermiti finally got himself involved in proceedings with a delightful stepover on the edge of the box to create half a yard. An in-form striker would have pulled the trigger. No surprise that he instead attempted a pass to Gassama that was never on.
It took Hibs the best part of 25 minutes to get any sort of a foothold in the game. Poor decision-making on the counter let them down on multiple occasions.
Elie Youan provided a rare moment of quality on the left to get past Dujon Sterling, before picking out Joe Newell in the box. The captain timed his run to perfection, only to head wide.
That woke Hibs up, with Youan causing all sorts of problems for John Souttar. The forward came out on top in a 50-50 with the defender before collecting the loose ball and racing towards goal. His strike from a tight angle lacked the conviction to trouble Jack Butland, who got two strong hands on the ball.
Danny Rohl tries to rouse his Rangers players but they failed to respond in front of goal
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The keeper passed a far trickier test less than 60 seconds later, rising high to his right to tip a curler from Youan over the bar. Andrews’ quick feet in the build-up were a delight to watch.
At the other end, a Gassama cross made it all the way to the back post, where a lunging Skov Olsen couldn’t quite get clean enough contact to trouble Raphael Sallinger in the home goal.
Martin Boyle should have given Gray’s side the lead before the interval, running on to a Newell clip over the top. He had all the time in the world to pick his spot. Perhaps that was the problem. His tame effort was straight at the onrushing Butland.
A frantic first half ended with a fresh-air swipe from Youan following another fine Andrews run.
We’ll never know what difference Kieron Bowie would have made here. Needless to say, he would have fancied getting on the scoresheet given the number of chances his former side created.
Whether the 23-year-old truly warranted the £6million-plus fee paid by Hellas Verona to secure his signature remains up for debate, but Hibs couldn’t turn that sort of money down. Gray will surely splash some of the cash before the transfer window shuts at 11pm this evening.
His team began the second period as they had finished the first, with Youan forcing Souttar into a sliding block 10 yards out as he arrowed a strike towards the bottom corner.
Substitute Mikey Moore thought he had put Rangers in front against the run of play with 15 minutes remaining, only to see his celebrations cut short by the offside flag. It was the tightest of calls.
Max Aarons comforts Chermiti on a day when Rangers struggled to make impact up front
Mikey Moore (partially hidden) bundles home a shot only to see his effort ruled out for offside
Rangers boss Danny Rohl had previously insisted that he needs improvements up front
With the clock ticking down, Elding sclaffed an effort into the hands of Butland from a dangerous position after a positive run by Scarlett. The young Irishman didn’t realise how much time he had available.
A frustrating end to a frustrating day for Hibs. And a day for Rohl to once again consider his striking options.
HIBERNIAN (3-5-2): Sallinger 6; Bushiri 7, Hanley 6 (Cadden 70), Iredale 6; Megwa 7, Barlaser 7, Newell 6 (Molotnikov 66), Chaiwa 1 (Andrews 10), OBITA 8; Youan 6 (Scarlett 71), Boyle 6 (Elding 66).
Booked: Boyle, Newell, Iredale.
Manager: David Gray 7
RANGERS: (4-3-3): Butland 8; Sterling 5 (Aarons 86), Souttar 7, Fernandez 6, Meghoma 5; Raskin 5, Chukwuani 5 (Diomande 69), Aasgaard 5; Skov Olsen 5 (Bajrami 69), Chermiti 5, Gassama 5 (Moore 56).
Booked: Sterling, Raskin.
Manager: Danny Rohl 5
Referee: Matthew MacDermid 6
Attendance: 18,227
