Ahead of kick-off at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon, some Rangers fans were far from happy with the team selected by Steven Gerrard.
There were questions raised concerning the exclusion of Alfredo Morelos, as the manager made three changes to the side that defeated FC Midtjylland.
However, things would turn out rather differently than those disappointed supporters had perhaps expected.
Rangers demolish Hibernian on home soil
Ironically, it was Alfredo Morelos’ replacement, Jermain Defoe, who did the most damage on the day.
He showed his killer instinct to put the Gers 2-0 up inside fifteen minutes at Ibrox. Hibs refused to lie down, though, at least initially.
Daryl Horgan pulled one back after 40 minutes and the result was still up in the air at the interval, despite the hosts’ dominance.
Sean Mackie’s second-half dismissal helped to calm the Ibrox faithful’s nerves, though, before the floodgates opened. Defoe completed his hat-trick and was promptly replaced by Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian, who looked equally hungry, grabbed himself a quickfire brace before Sheyi Ojo got his reward for a lively display with a strike of his own in injury time.
Gers potency impressive
This was a mightily convincing win, made even more impressive by the fact that in four meetings last season, Gerrard’s side netted just three times against this opposition.
It was the two strikers, who were already on the books last season, who did the bulk of the damage. Yet, the major difference came from wide areas, with both Jordan Jones and Ojo providing a real threat from the flanks. They helped open Hibs up with regularity, creating a host of chances. In all honesty, it could have been more.
At times during 2018/19, opposition sides were there for the taking but emerged with a point. This time around, the Gers ran riot in the rain.
Scoring 12 goals in their opening two fixtures, Celtic have got off to a flyer. Yet, on Sunday, Rangers showed they can now match their rivals in terms of potency.
Hibs may have been down to ten men, but it was the type of convincing display that the Hoops have produced so often in recent campaigns.
From the opening two weeks of the season, Stevie G’s side have recorded two telling wins. The first showed the team’s character and endurance. The second showed utter ruthlessness.
If these traits continue to shine through across the campaign, this outfit are in with a real shout.
