Hibernian 2 Rangers 4

18th August 2002
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:11,633.

Scorers:
Hibernian: Townsley, O'Connor.
Rangers: de Boer, Ferguson, Lovenkrands (2).

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotsman on Monday 19th August 2002

Hibs curse Black Sabbath

BEING involved in a six-goal thriller for a second successive Sunday did little to lighten the mood of Bobby Williamson last night, even if the final scoreline against Rangers was an improvement on the horror experienced seven days earlier at Tynecastle.

The bottom line for the Hibs manager was that this was another depressing afternoon in a miserable start to the season which leaves them anchored at the foot of the Bank of Scotland Premierleague without a point.

While Hibs were right to nurse a sense of injustice over Paco Luna’s 66th minute dismissal, there could be no dispute over the merit of Rangers’ victory as Alex McLeish’s side slipped into a familiar pursuit of Celtic at the top of the table.

Peter Lovenkrands, Rangers’ Danish international, ran Hibs ragged, scoring twice and playing a crucial role in the visitors’ other two goals.

The financial restrictions placed on Williamson at Easter Road were underlined by the inclusion in his much changed line-up of two unheralded Frenchmen brought to the club prior to his own arrival.

Full-back Matthias Doumbe, a McLeish recruit, made his debut and midfielder Frederic Dacquin, acquired during the ill-fated tenure of Franck Sauzee, only his third first-team appearance as the manager made no less than six alterations to the side mauled in such morale-sapping fashion at Tynecastle.

It was a torrid introduction for Doumbe, once on the books of Paris Saint-Germain, as he was handed the task of policing Lovenkrands. With just six minutes on the clock, the Dane had utilised his exceptional pace to engineer the worst possible start for the beleaguered home side.

Grant Brebner’s pass, intended for Freddy Arpinon, was intercepted by Mikel Arteta just inside the Hibs half and the young Spaniard sprayed the ball quickly to Lovenkrands who left Doumbe in his slipstream on the left.

His low cross found Ronald de Boer’s run unchecked by the Hibs defence and the Dutch international swept a close- range shot beyond the helpless Nick Colgan.

Rangers already appeared more than capable of dishing out another heavy defeat to Hibs and were denied a second goal just two minutes later by an errant linesman’s flag, Shota Arveladze clearly onside when he headed an Arteta cross home from close range.

It was the kind of fortunate break Hibs would need to take anything from the match and, as they regrouped, they were certainly not found wanting in terms of the commitment and application Williamson had demanded of them in the wake of their derby debacle.

Initially, however, their eagerness earned them only a rash of bookings from referee Hugh Dallas, who became increasingly card-happy after adopting a noticeably more lenient approach in the early stages. As ever, Scotland’s self-styled leading whistler was maddeningly inconsistent.

Luna, for a late challenge on Lovenkrands, was among four Hibs players cautioned in the first half and it would prove fateful for the striker.

Against the expectations of most, Hibs had dragged themselves level ten minutes before half-time with a goal which raised familiar concerns over the standard of Rangers’ defending.

The visitors were slow to react when a Tom McManus corner dropped amongst them, allowing Luna to stab the ball into the path of Derek Townsley.

The lanky substitute, who had replaced the injured Arpinon, was afforded as much time as he needed to steady himself and drive a shot beyond Stefan Klos.

Having worked so hard for their equaliser, it was particularly galling for Hibs to concede a second goal to Rangers so needlessly in first half injury time.

Only Doumbe will be able to even attempt an explanation of why he hauled Lovenkrands back by the arm just inside his own penalty area. The hapless defender was certainly unable to quibble as Dallas pointed to the spot and Barry Ferguson stepped forward to send Colgan the wrong way with a perfectly struck penalty.

Hibs could scarcely afford such acts of self-destruction against technically superior opposition and it was another error which lead to Rangers’ crucial third goal in 64 minutes.

Mathias Jack, under no real pressure, miscued an attempted clearance into the path of Fernando Ricksen on the right and his low cross was smacked home first time by Lovenkrands who had stolen ahead of Doumbe.

The home team felt they had reduced the arrears two minutes later when Luna directed the ball over the Rangers line from close range after good work by substitute Garry O’Connor. While the linesman immediately indicated a goal, referee Dallas agreed with claims from the Rangers players that Luna had used a hand.

Television pictures later provided anything but an open- and-shut case against the Spaniard, who held his head in anguish when the official sent him off for a second bookable offence.

It had been a tough enough call for Hibs with a full complement of players and it was no surprise when Rangers laid them bare to claim a fourth goal four minutes from time.

Ferguson’s through ball found Lovenkrands haring clear of the home defence to drill a low shot beyond Colgan.

O’Connor, clearly eager to impress against prospective future employers, placed some gloss on the final scoreline when he hooked in a Brebner corner in 88 minutes but nothing could disguise the misery of a third straight defeat for the Leith club.

Hibernian: Colgan, Doumbe, Smith, Fenwick, Murray, Dacquin (O’Connor 58), Brebner, Jack, Arpinon (Townsley 20), McManus (Paatelainen 74), Luna. Subs not used: Caig, Wiss.

Rangers: Klos, Muscat, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta, De Boer (Flo 78), Arveladze, Lovenkrands. Subs not used: McGregor, Latapy, Ross, Konterman.

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