Promotion hopefuls Rangers and Hibernian met at Ibrox in the Scottish Championship on Sunday afternoon in a hard-fought encounter.
Neither side could break the deadlock in the first half, but a blistering free kick from James Tavernier decided the match in the second period.
A 1-0 win for Rangers moved them to the top of the table, above Queen of the South on goal difference, while Hibs remain in sixth place.
Find out how all of the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of the Scottish Championship clash between Rangers and Hibernian. Games at this level don't come much bigger as two promotion rivals prepare to do battle at Ibrox. Team news incoming...
RANGERS: Foderingham, Taverier, Wilson, Kiernan, Wallace, Halliday, Law, Holt, McKay, Miler, Waghorn
HIBS: Oxley, Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, Stevenson, Fyvie, McGinn, Henderson, Carmichael, Boyle, Cummings
Rangers have recalled their big guns following the 2-0 away win at Ayr United in the Petrofac Training Cup. Kenny Miller and Martyn Waghorn will lead the attack, while Rob Kiernan, Andy Halliday and Nicky Law (below) all have places in the starting XI.
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Hibs headed into the match with an unchanged squad from last weekend's win over Greenock Morton, with James Keatings, Farid El Alagui and Jordon Forster still sidelined. Dylan McGeouch (below) has been benched for the trip to his former club, while Jason Cummings provides the danger up front.
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Here are the scenes outside of Ibox ahead of kickoff. We can expect a packed-out stadium and a raucous atmosphere in Glasgow today.
PIC: Atmosphere building outside the ground and inside on a cracking day at Ibrox - around 40 mins until kick off! pic.twitter.com/tOWLzwmiq4
— Rangers FC (@RangersFC) August 23, 2015
Rangers have a 100% record to maintain today, with former Brentford boss Mark Warburton having rejuvenated the club since taking the helm. They have already beaten Hibs here this season, thrashing the Edinburgh outfit 6-2 in the Challenge Cup.
A win today could move them above Scottish Championship leaders Queen of the South - who have won three out of three so far - on goal difference.
Hibs have made something of an indifferent start to the new campaign, having finished the previous season in good form. After crashing out of the Challenge Cup to Rangers, Alan Stubbs's side lost their opening league match to Dumbarton before putting some points on the board at home to Morton. Even at this early stage of the season, getting a result here could be vital to their promotion bid.
They have a decent record at Ibrox, beating the Gers here twice last season, but were unable to do so when it really counted in the promotion playoffs. Nevertheless, Stubbs can take heart from the fact that Hibs have proven capable of beating anybody at this level.
Some pre-match quotes from each camp coming up...
ALAN STUBBS: "It's going to be a great game no matter what. You've got two teams who have got aspirations to do really well this season and try and win the league. The game certainly doesn't need added spice because it's going to be a good game anyway."
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GERS KEEPER WES FODERINGHAM: "It's probably the biggest game of the season so far. But I don't think it will be season-defining if I'm honest. Whatever the game, whoever the opposition are, we go out with the same enthusiasm, the same ideas and the same work-rate. We've been praised for that already and I'm sure it'll be the same on Sunday and hopefully we can get a good result."
PREDICTION: With seven minutes to go until kickoff, there's just enough time to give you my full-time prediction. I'm going with a 2-0 win for the hosts. Hibs have proven tough opposition for the Gers in the past, but defeating them at home under Warburton is a much taller order.
The two teams are heading out onto the pitch now. An electric atmosphere is building around the sold-out Ibrox - this is the second-biggest crowd in British football behind Manchester United this weekend!
KICKOFF! The match is under way here at Ibrox. Rangers, in their blue and white strip, are kicking from right to left in the first period.
Rangers make an early statement of intent as former Hearts man Danny Wilson plays a long ball into the final third towards Nicky Law, but the defender puts too much on the cross and it goes out for a throw.
Hibs have the chance to attack as the referee awards them a free kick around 35 yards from goal for a Kiernan foul on Cummings. Cummings steps up to take the set piece himself, only to blaze his effort well over the bar to ironic cheers from the home support.
Rangers win a corner as David Gray beats Barry McKay to a cross and heads it behind. Rangers squander the corner and Hibs look to break at pace, but Lee Wallace tracks back and snuffs out the danger.
Good play from Cummings puts the Gers under pressure. The Hibs striker gains possession in the area following a throw-in and uses his strength to hold off his marker before playing a low ball across the face of Foderingham's goal, which the Rangers keeper gratefully scoops up.
CHANCE! Hesitant play from Oxley in the Hibs goal gifts possession to Waghorn in the penalty area. He picks out McKay, but the midfielder fails to get his shot away and it remains goalless after 10 minutes.
CHANCE! More Rangers pressure as Tavernier picks out Miller with a throw-in and the experienced striker forces a corner as his cut-back is deflected behind. McKay takes the corner and finds the head of the unmarked Waghorn, but he puts it over. He should have done better!
Rangers have done most of the pressing so far but you have to give Hibs credit for the way they have defended. David Gray has been particularly solid for the visitors, who look capable of hitting the Gers on the break with Cummings leading the charge.
CHANCES! This game is opening up now. A terrible error by Foderingham gifts the ball to Boyle in the Gers box, but Wallace races back and produces a vital interception to prevent Hibs from opening the scoring. Moments later, Rangers launch a swift counter which ends with a blistering strike from Wallace that whizzes wide of the target.
Good play by Jason Holt along the right flank. The former Hearts man floats a dangerous ball into the centre of the penalty area, which Hanlon scrambles clear. More impressive defending from Hibernian.
CHANCE! Hibs have another chance to take the lead as Carmichael's deflected effort falls invitingly for Cummings to volley inside the six-yard box, but he mis-kicks under pressure from Wallace. That was the chance of the game so far!
Alan Stubbs's side have really grown into this match and been dominant for the last 10 minutes. After a bright start, Rangers are spending more time than they would like inside their own half.
The hosts are back in the front foot as Waghorn forces Hanlon into conceding a corner. The attack breaks down when Holt's long-range effort is calmly collected by Oxley in the Hibs goal.
It's been an open game here at Ibrox, with chances falling at both ends. Hibs venture forward as Cummings attempts to split the Rangers defence in two with a through-ball to Carmichael, but an offside flag halts their advance.
Here's Jason Holt in action for Rangers. He's proved to be one of their greatest threats in the first half, terrorising Hibs along the right flank:
PIC: Jason Holt on the ball in the first half of today's match at Ibrox. More pics on http://t.co/gOwDjobecr pic.twitter.com/33TzCkMSY1
— Rangers FC (@RangersFC) August 23, 2015
Half-chance for Hibs as they force Rangers onto the back foot with some neat counter-attacking play. The move ends when Boyle lets fly from outside of the box, his effort sailing wide of Foderingham's post.
All that we are missing is a goal here - the deadlock remains intact thanks to some strong defending at both ends of the park. The Gers rear guard has really tightened up under Warburton, with Wallace and Wilson impressing this afternoon.
CHANCE! Great defending from Hibs keeps Rangers out again! First Hanlon does well to put Wallace's low cross behind for a corner, then Gray hacks an angled shot from Waghorn off the line!
CHANCE! End-to-end stuff now as Boyle's cross falls kindly for Cummings inside the Rangers box, forcing Foderingham to race off his line and produce a vital block. Both sides are riding their luck in the dying stages of the first half.
BOOKING! McGinn is the first man in the book for a foul on Law in the centre of the park.
HALF TIME: Rangers 0-0 Hibs
It's been a good open game here in Glasgow, with both side producing goalscoring opportunities and defending well. Cummings has been a threat for Hibs as an effective target man, while Rangers have worked well as a unit across the pitch.
Rangers claimed 57% of the possession during the first period, but that tells only half the story as Hibs created the better chances. The visitors have had more of them, too - five to Rangers' four. Here's a breakdown of the stats from the first half:
STATS: @RangersFC with the best of possession at Ibrox with 57% - but neither side able to make the breakthrough. pic.twitter.com/2f2Dr8wbgJ
— Rangers FC (@RangersFC) August 23, 2015
I think Alan Stubbs will be the happier of the two managers at the break. It's not easy playing in front of almost 50,000 Rangers fans, but the Edinburgh outfit have more than held their own. This could very easily go either way in the second period.
If you've just joined us, you can get yourself up to speed with all of the action from the opening 45 minutes with our half-time report here.
KICK OFF: We're back under way at Ibrox!
Rangers are quick off the starting blocks in the second half, going straight on the attack through Wallace, who is stopped in his tracks by a well-time challenge from Hanlon inside the area.
GREAT SAVE! Oxley produces a wonderful save to prevent Holt from giving the Gers the lead. Law supplied the cross and Holt took it on the volley, his effort taking a deflection off Fontaine on its way towards the bottom corner. Oxley tips it behind at full stretch!
SUBSTITUTION: Hibs bring on McGeouch to face his former club. He replaces Gray, who I think has taken a knock.
Good pressure from Rangers, who force their eighth corner of the match when Waghorn's cross is deflected behind. They can't do anything with the corner but win a free kick in a dangerous position moments later as Fontaine cuts down Wallace, who looks in some pain following that challenge.
It's a poor free kick from Halliday, played low straight to the feet of Stevenson, who clears his lines.
Rangers skipper Lee Wallace is back on his feet after receiving treatment on the sidelines following that collision with Fontaine. Fyvie is booked for clattering into Law moments later.
SUBSTITUTION: Rangers bring on Tottenham Hotspur loanee Nathan Oduwa to replace Barrie McKay. Both players are given a good reception from the home crowd.
Could Oduwa be the man to force a breakthrough here? He certainly showed off some silky skills during Rangers' win at Alloa Athletic, although some accused him of showboating. This could be a good opportunity to silence those critics.
BOOKING! Danny Wilson is the first Rangers man to enter the notebook for a late challenge on McGinn as Hibs attempt to break quickly.
CHANCE! Hibs come close from the resulting free kick, which Fontaine gets his head to at the far post, forcing Foderingham into a reaction save. Good hands from the Rangers goalkeeper!
MISS! Hibs should be a goal to the good! Cummings cuts the Gers defence in two and picks out Henderson in front of goal, but the Celtic loanee loses his bottle and fires over with only Foderingham to beat!
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Hibernian (James Tavernier)
Rangers take the lead through a stunning free kick from James Tavernier! We all know he can hit them, but he really outdid himself with this one. The former Wigan man hits a rocket straight into the top corner from an acute angle, leaving Oxley with absolutely no chance!
CHANCE! Liam Henderson blows another chance for Hibs after being picked out by Carmichael in front of goal. He drags his shot wide of the target - not as glaring a miss as his previous sitter, but it's clear the Celtic loanee is feeling the pressure at Ibrox.
SUBSTITUTION: Jason Holt comes off and is replaced by Dean Shiels as Rangers make a like-for-like change in midfield.
Half-chance for Rangers, who have kept Hibs under the cosh since taking the lead. Goalscorer Tavernier and Waghorn combine to carve out a chance for Law, but he fails to get a shot away.
There's a breakdown in communication in the Rangers defence and Cummings almost capitalises as he races clean through on goal, only to be stopped in his tracks by an offside flag.
SHOT! Impressive counter-attacking play from Rangers as they attempt to hit Hibs with a suckpunch, but Oxley snuffs out the danger by keeping out Wallace at his near post.
SUBSTITUTION: Hibs make a change up front, throwing on Dominique Malonga for Daniel Carmichael as they go in search of an equaliser.
BOOKING! Two players from each side have gone into the book now as Nicky Law is penalised for a foul.
The action continues at a frantic pace as half-chances fall at both ends. Nathan Oduwa shoots narrowly wide from outside the box at one end of the park, before Fyvie leaps high to meet a free kick at the other, only to miss the ball and watch it drift out of play.
BOOKING! Tensions are boiling over now as Lewis Stevenson picks up a yellow for a needless foul on Waghorn as the Rangers striker attempted to shake him off with a quick turn.
SUBSTITUTION: Kenny Miller's afternoon ends early as Nicky Clark comes on to replace him for the final seven minutes.
Hibs have provided stern opposition for Rangers today, but Warburton's much-improved Gers continue progress as a unit. This will be a big result for a team that look destined for the Scottish Premiership next term, based on the early evidence at least.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to play, and Hibs look determined to hit Rangers with the kitchen sink during that time. Stanton plays a ball into the area towards Stevenson, but it falls awkwardly for him and he fails to get a shot away.
It's been a valiant effort from Hibs, but it looks like they are going to leave Ibrox empty-handed.
Tavernier belts a free kick into the stand with what looks like the last action of this match. That was a far cry from his earlier effort that almost tore out the goal net!
FULL TIME: Rangers 1-0 Hibernian
And there we have it, Mark Warburton still has a 100% record in charge of Rangers as the Gers see out the match. Hibs put up a good fight and are unlucky to come away with nothing, but that Tavernier free kick was a worthy match-winner!
That result puts Rangers top of the pile in the Scottish Championship. Queen of the South are the only other side with three wins out of three, but the Gers have a superior goal difference. Hibs remain in sixth place.
And that's all we have time for at Ibox, but you find a summary of the 90 minutes in our match report here. Many thanks for joining us for this Scottish Championship clash.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
