Hibernian 2-2 Rangers

Barry Ferguson’s possible last game in charge of Rangers fell flat as Hibernian levelled twice to cap off a remarkable second half of the season.

A Cyriel Dessers opening just two minutes in had stunned an Easter Road crowd in the mood to celebrate. Jordan Smith’s careless pass allowing Nico Raskin to feed the league top scorer who lifted the ball over his header before drilling in his 17th for the season.

Lethal on the counter, Hibernian punished the visitors’ profligacy in front of goal, racing from one end to the other with Martin Boyle’s drilled low ball across the box finding Kieron Bowie who was able to slip away for the leveller.

Having failed to learn from an early Raskin header from a corner, David Gray’s side were punished after the break as the Belgian’s deft flick-on gave Rangers the lead.

In almost as much time as it taken them to respond to the opener, Hibs fired back for a second time as Nicky Cadden’s long range cross found Martin Boyle in an incredulous amount of space to head the ball past a helpless Jack Butland.

There will no doubt be frustration for Barry Ferguson, who watched his side fumble two golden opportunities, the first from Vaclav Černy, who botched his attempt one on one with Smith.

The worst was yet to come, this time Raskin contriving to beat Smith yet fail to put the ball past Rocky Bushiri, who found himself bundled over inside the goal, with Dessers unable to do better on the rebound.

Smith was not short of things to do on the day, brilliantly denying James Tavernier’s free-kick heading straight for the top corner.

Ferguson’s audition ends but problems deeper

For all the use of platitudes and rousing speeches, the numbers never lie and what they tell us is fairly damning for Ferguson’s job prospects.

Having failed to win a game in which they were dominant, part of the blame lies with the players who were unable to convert numerous chances in front of goal.

As Raskin said in his conference after the game, the performance summed up the season as a whole, flashes but unable to get over the line.

The pantomime of names associated with the club will run wild in the coming weeks with Fergus not out of the mix by any means, but the issues at the club run far deeper than who is in the dugout.

Fitting Gayle tribute cherry on cake

If ever there was a way to round off a career, Dwight Gayle might have struggled to conjure one as special as being surrounded by family and teammates, being serenaded by ‘Sunshine on Leith’.

Despite the glorious weather, Hibs by no means had their minds on sunny beaches. Instead, they continued to hound Rangers after falling behind.

A season that looked destined for the doldrums was turned on its head with that Aberdeen draw and where once a relegation battle was on the cards, the club can now dangle the carrot of European football in front of potential signings.

Indeed their transfer window might be one of the most interesting of the summer (second to Rangers it is fair to say) as they look to strengthen to play on multiple fronts without falling to the spiralling impact that their Edinburgh rivals suffered.

Line-ups:

Hibernian: Smith, Iredale (Obita 93), Bushiri, O’Hora, Cadden, Manneh (Moriah-Welsh 57), Triantis (Levitt 79), Cadden, Hoilett (Campbell 57), Bowie (Gayle 57), Boyle (c) Unused subs: Bursik, Ekpiteta, Kuharevich, Levitt, Youan

Goals: Bowie (16)

Booked: Bowie, Moriah-Welsh, Boyle

Rangers: Butland, Kasanwirjo, Balogun (Pröpper), Souttar, Tavernier (c), Raskin (Cortés 81), Barron, Diomandé (Lawrence 54), Danilo, Dessers, Černy (Rice 81) Unused subs: Kelly, Curtis, McCallion, McCausland, Nsiala, Rice

Goals: Dessers (2)

Booked: Diomandé, Kasanwirjo

Attendance: 18,793