Games such as this are often decided on the tightest of margins, and Hibernian boss David Gray was just disappointed that they went against his side in Sunday’s defeat to Rangers.
After perhaps the most impressive win of the Philippe Clement era on Thursday night – Rangers cruised past Malmo in the Europa League curtain-raiser – this was a little more nervy.
Swaggering in Sweden, Rangers were very nearly humbled in Hibernian.
Back at Ibrox for the first time in the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, Clement’s team certainly rode their luck. Hibs mustered 18 shots on goal, as many as their in-form hosts. And, just like against Dundee United a fortnight earlier, Tom Lawrence proved to be the difference.
Picking up the ball wide on the left and curling a sumptuous shot into the far top corner, the Welsh wizard was Rangers’ matchwinner in league action for the second time in two matches.
David Gray hails Tom Lawrence as Rangers beat Hibernian
Hibs boss David Gray saw a result Sail Away after goalkeeper Jack Butland then denied Mykola Kukharevych from the penalty spot, with the Easter Road chief feeling his side were hard done by not getting some sort of reward for their efforts.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin singled out Lawrence after Rangers won at Tannadice. And Gray, lauding Lawrence’s ‘worldie’ strike, was keen to do the same.
“Listen, I never accept losing games of football,” Gray told reporters at full-time. “But I think the players didn’t deserve to lose the game. I thought we were excellent in the game. We had numerous chances.
“You saw the way the game finished, I really felt that we should’ve at least got something from it.
“The first-half, credit to the boys for sticking to the gameplan as we knew the first 20 minutes was going to be tough. Rangers were off the back of a really good result midweek [versus Malmo]. It’s their first league game back here, 50,000 supporters…
“It was always going to be a lively start but I thought we coped with that really well. The goal they scored [from Lawrence] is a wondergoal.”
Hibs boss rues Jack Butland penalty save in Rangers win
Rangers’ defensive partnership of Robin Propper and John Souttar is growing by the game. The Glasgow giants have kept six clean sheets in their last seven games in all competitions now.
And while Butland had pretty much nothing to do in Scandinavia three days earlier, the experienced shot-stopper proved that he remains a terrific last line of defence as he denied Kukharevych from 12 yards.
“Josef [Bursik] makes a brilliant save for us in the second-half, but we had numerous chances as well,” adds Gray, his own shot-stopper denying Cyriel Dessers from point-blank range.
“We missed a penalty. And, as I say, I’m proud of the players of their efforts and for sticking to the gameplan. And actually, the performance they put in was fantastic.
“I wouldn’t criticise anyone for sticking their hand up to take a penalty. I certainly wouldn’t have done it in my career, that’s why I was a defender probably.
“Does he regret it? If he could take it again would he put his foot through it? Absolutely. Big moment in the game but even then I thought the players’ reaction to not scoring the penalty – which was like a goal for Rangers – we got control of the game and were really good after that.”
Despite a fine response to that Old Firm derby defeat before the September international break, Rangers remain third with Celtic and Aberdeen maintaining their 100 per cent record.
