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Igamane hat-trick not enough as resilient Hibs earn point

Venue: Easter Road Date: 05/01/25 Time: 12:00pm A perfect hat-trick for Hamza Igamane could not put away a spirited Hibs as Rangers dropped points for the third time in four games. Having been denied by Jordan Smith in the third minute, the Moroccan striker opened his account when he was first to meet Ianis Hagi’s cross. Continuing to knock at Hibernian’s door, Igamane doubled his and Rangers’ tally with an excellent header from Nedim Bajrami’s cross. Never looking like giving in, the home side responded through Martin Boyle, after the striker was teed up by Rock Bushiri’s header. As David Gray’s men continued to apply the pressure, they were soon rewarded when Ianis Hagi went from hero to villain, briging Chris Cadden down in the box with Boyle dispatching the spot kick to level the score. Their efforts seemed in vain as Igamane fired home his third and tenth goal in just eleven games after Cerny did well to find the striker with another low ball across goal. Down but never out, Bushiri’s header to bring the score the 3-3 epitomised the fighting spirit of a side that has gone from the foot of the table to undefeated in six games. Igamane was furious as he failed to add an remarkable fourth, beating Bushiri and racing through on goal but his shot was just wide as Hibs secured a crucial point. Both sides had their chances but Rangers will rue not putting the game to bed in the first half. Bajrami had an opportunity early on as Cerny’s pinpoint ball send the Albanian through on goal but Hibs put bodies on the line to deflect the ball out for a corner and would do the same soon after as Igamane continued to hound the home side’s goalmouth. David Gray has Jordan Smith to thank for keeping his side in it, denying Bajrami, Cerny and Igamane who continued to unleash attempts on goal lest Smith lose his focus for a split second. Hibs however grew into the game as Lewis Miller recovered from a nervy start to thunder an effort from outside the box, stinging the palms of keeper Kelly before his header seemed certain to have put his side ahead just a minute later. Kelly looked a grateful man as he watched the ball bounce off the inside of his post and back into his hands but the message was clear, Hibs were not finished yet. Following the late equaliser they looked set to hang on for a point until Igamane raced past Bushiri and in on goal with time almost up but his shot could only hit the post. Rangers have now dropped seven points in their last four games as they look to turn things around away to Dundee on Thursday. Igamane can’t lift makeshift defence Not even Clement himself would have predicted that just a few months on from playing in Morocco, Hamza Igamane would be the side’s most valuable player. Ten goals in eleven games is astonishing improvement on the one he manged in the eleven prior but the striker continues to rescue his team from their defensive woes, having scored both goals in their draw against Motherwell. Despite a hat-trick, the man who is yet to receive a senior cap could not hide the fact that Rangers continue to be the architects of their own downfall. Much was expected from the side after trouncing Celtic 3-0 but careless defending and an mishandling of the game tactically meant they gave themselves little to no chance of catching the current champions. Clement’s problems do not stop there after he watched Dujon Sterling, already playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role due to the absence of John Souttar and Leon Balogun, limp off the field and be replaced by Leon King. Now as they travel to Dundee in just four days time, they will need to rely on a defender who up until had yet to play a senior minute this season. Dogged Hibs transformed After one win from their opening fourteen games, there was little surprise as rumours circulated that manager David Gray was for the chop. Now with just one defeat in eight, Gray reserves to right to feel a little smug as his side find themselves a hair’s length from the top six. His remarked determination to confront the club’s problems header looks to have seeped into his players who never gave up despite going two goals down before the half hour mark. Nicky Cadden continues to look like a fish in water as a wing-back, firing crosses in a causing his opposite number trouble to no end. The turnaround however, is most epitomised by Martin Boyle whose two goals are indicative of a player who looks to have put one of his most difficult starts to a season safely in distance. In the post-match conference, Gray joked that he would have laughed if someone had suggested to him that Boyle might one day be captain and yet, he now embodies the fighting spirit that has seen the Hibees pull away from their Edinburgh rivals. As the race for the top half intensifies, there is plenty of evidence to suggest they could be up and amongst it. What the mangers said: Hibs boss David Gray: “Massive credit to the players for the second half performance and hanging in there in the first half to be honest. “I’ve had to sit and answer a lot of questions about the character of the group but they’ve answered that numerous times in recent weeks. “I joke with [Martin Boyle] with quite a lot because when he joined the club, if you’d said to me he was going to turn out to be a Hibs captain one day I would have laughed at you but he’s matured into that role.” Rangers boss Philippe Clement: “It’s a frustrating afternoon to lose three points. “I don’t understand the penalty situation. It’s a small collision between two players at top

January 5, 2025

Hamza Igamane could be new Ibrox hero but will Clement risk over-dependency?

Hamza Igamane has been the face of Rangers side on the mend despite some testing results in recent weeks, his second half cameo against Motherwell producing two goals reminiscent of forwards of old. The Moroccan embodies the return of grit and steel to the position of striker at Ibrox, a role occupied by distinguished figures in the club’s recent history. However with eight games left to play in January alone, including Hibernian on Sunday, Philippe Clement faces one of his biggest tests in management. The Rangers boss was widely mocked for his decision to bench Igamane and Vaclav Cerny against Motherwell on the back of advice from the sports science department. Yet as he chases the Europa League, Scottish Cup and arch rivals Celtic in the league, he will be depending on the 22 year old to the point of potential injury or, risk his own future at the club should alternatives fail to deliver. In good company Far from earning their acclaim as false nines, striker’s have made names for themselves at Ibrox through tenacity and a relentless pursuit of goals. As a new year rolls on, the classic centre forward of days gone by remains just as adored now as it was then. Through the seasons, there have been those who have earned that kind of legendary status by delivering on a long term basis, à la Kris Boyd who finished four of his five seasons with Rangers as the league’s top scorer. Igamane is a long way from that and it is more than likely he will be off long before Boyd’s five years, let alone Ally McCoist’s fifteen, with rumours already swirling that he has attracted interested from clubs in England. Yet others have left their mark in far less time at Glasgow side. Nikica Jelavic spent just a year and a half at the club but has remained a firm favourite amongst fans ever since. Helped in no small part by his contributions to driving the side to a league title and a winner against Celtic in the League Cup to make it a double in 2011. Always looking a cut above, he terrorised defenders with 30 goals in just 45 games but eventually the lure of the Premier League proved too strong, making his way to Everton in January 2012. Despite the short stint, Jelavic is always a welcomed addition to the club’s ‘Legends’ games over a decade since leaving. It is too early to say if Igamane will have the same impact of the Croatian or his strike partner in 2010-11, Kenny Miller, who managed an eye watering 21 goals in 18 games to win his third consecutive title at the club during his second of three spells with Rangers. However with seven goals in ten games, including a double against Nice and a leveller against Tottenham, he seems to be on the right track. Considering Igamane had managed just one in the eleven prior, it shows a remarkable improvement from a player who didn’t immediately hit the ground running as the aforementioned players did. A lack of mental fortitude has been the stick with which this Rangers squad have been beaten as candidates up front struggled to replicate the steel of the last striker to etch his name into folklore. Fiery boots to fill Alfredo Morelos is as much loved at Ibrox as he is hated by fans from every club he has faced. Seemingly as likely to score as he was to be sent off, the Colombian did not have the goal return of those before him but his win at all costs attitude propelled Rangers to a first Premiership title in a decade to stop Celtic winning the coveted ‘ten in a row’. His time at the club ended on a slightly sour note, Morelos took every opportunity to express a desire to move away from the club as his contract ran down but Rangers have since struggled desperately to replicate his impact. Following his exit, a flurry of players auditioned for the part of ‘Ibrox hero number nine’ but none quite fit the bill. Kemer Roofe had his moments but his time in Glasgow was blighted by injuries as he was never able to be relied on during his four years at the club. Three time Croatian international Antonio Colak’s star burned bright albeit briefly. An impressive 13 goals in 17 games was as good as it got before fading with niggles of his own and poor form. Michael Beale arrived and sent the frontman packing to Parma after just one season in favour of Danilo and Cyriel Dessers. The club are only just starting to see some return on their investment in the Brazilian and the much maligned Dessers has never felt the love from fans and his time at the club seems to be coming to an end. Despite 22 goals in all competitions last season, which is no bad return, the striker’s perpetual habit of missing clear cut chances has not helped the fact that he does not fit the moult of the classic centre forward Rangers supporters have come to expect. The question now is whether the ever growing weight of expectation will prove too heavy for the young man. A New Hope Igamane was not even included in the first three league squads of the campaign but just a few months on Clement would struggle to name a starting line-up without him. Dessers was given a rare start against Motherwell in the last game of 2024 but had little to celebrate going into the new year as he was hauled off at the break and Igamane was tasked with salvaging something from the wreckage. Two goals and a point that prevented a second consecutive defeat for the side highlights a growing dependency that has been compounded by the demand from fans to kickstart a run of wins off the back of their performance at Celtic. Games against Manchester United and Union Saint-Gilloise in

January 4, 2025

Cerny finish rescues wasteful Rangers against Dundee

Venue: Ibrox Date: 21/12/24 Time: 15:00 Vlaclav Cerny’s second half finish saw Rangers defeat Dundee to leapfrog Aberdeen into second. Despite a dominant performance which saw the home side hit the crossbar four times, it was only Danilo’s pass to unleash Cerny on an impressive run and dribble past Trevor Carson that proved the difference. Ianis Hagi was the first to strike the woodwork, his thundering effort bouncing off the top of the bar. Captain James Tavernier was next, his free kick from distance agonisingly close to give Philippe Clement an opener as Dundee clung on for life. Cerny came close before the break, Hamilton able to keep the midfielder out. Rangers should have come away from this fixture comfortable winners but for Hamza Igamane being kept out by Jordan McGhee on the line and hitting the crossbar with a point blank effort later on. They were almost punished for their profligacy in front of goal but Finlay Robertson could not convert. Attendance: 47,208 Line-ups: L. Kelly, Jefté, R. Pröpper, D. Sterling, J. Tavernier (c), I. Hagi (R. Yilmaz 84’), N. Raskin, M. Diomande, H. Igamane (C. Dessers 84’), Danilo (N. Bajrami 62’), V. Černý (R. McCausland 75’) Substitutes: N. Bajrami, L. Balogun, C. Barron, J. Butland, Ó. Cortés, C. Dessers, K. Dowell, R. McCausland, R. Yilmaz Line-ups: T. Carson (c), B. Koumetio, A. Portales, R. Astley, J. McGhee, F. Roberston, S. Tiffoney (J. Vetro 65’), L. Cameron, M. Sylla, J. Mulligan, S. Palmer-Houlden (S. Murray 65’) Substitutes: J. McCracken, S. Braybrooke, E. Ingram, S. Kelly, C. Main, S. Murray, H. Sharp, J. Vetro Referee: Matthew McDermid

December 22, 2024

History on the line for Celtic and Rangers in Sunday’s League Cup final

Venue: Hampden Park Date: 15/12/24 Time: 15:30 Where to watch: The game is live on Premier Sports On Sunday, it is not merely a League Cup at stake but history as both sides sit neck and neck on a monumental 118 trophies. Celtic come in favourites as the country’s dominant force and their UCL results are indicative of a side that has taken its game to another level under Brendan Rodgers. However last year’s winners Rangers look to have turned a corner in recent weeks following a poor start to the campaign, undefeated since October and notching some impressive results of their own in the Europa League. How did we get here Celtic swotted all before them as they put Hibernian, Falkirk and Aberdeen to the sword, scoring fourteen goals en route to the final. Current cup holders Rangers meanwhile comfortably dispatched St Johnstone and Dundee but were given a scare in the semifinal at Hampden when Motherwell led at the break. Ultimately Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami’s goals were the difference, saving Philippe Clement from an embarrassing exit. Domestic steamrollers Celtic There is no question who the favourites are on this occasion. Celtic sit nine points clear at the top of the table, undefeated with the season yet to reach the halfway stage. A goal difference of 40+ is an astounding figure as the side continue to rotate with no noticeable impact on performance. Nicolas Kuhn looks a cut above in the league and his performance against RB Leipzig will have drawn eyes from across the continent. The German tops the Premiership’s assist charts and his 3.12 chances created per 90 bettered only by Paulo Bernardo’s 3.13. Yet behind every machine like performance is the mechanic who keeps everything ticking, and in Callum McGregor, Celtic have a player whose ability to recycle possession is just as dangerous as his eye for goal. With six league goals, the captain not only sits joint top of the charts but has put away a third of the shots he has taken so far. Victory on Sunday would bring a 23rd domestic trophy to place him just two off Celtic’s record holder Bobby Lennox. Igamane the face of revived Rangers This time last month, Hamza Igamane was afterthought in heated discussions concerning how Rangers could turn their dismal season around. Losses to Celtic, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen had made winning the title nigh on impossible after only ten games as Igamane had managed a solitary goal against FCSB. Four weeks on, the Moroccan looks set to play a starring role in helping his side retain the League Cup for the first time since 2011. With the oft-maligned Dessers guilty of missing too many clear-cut chances, Igamane had the opportunity to make the striker’s berth his own and it’s fair to say he has grabbed it with both hands. A double against Nice kickstarted a run of five goals in as many appearances, including a terrific finish in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Perhaps more impressive than the finish, was the cross that led to it. James Tavernier’s whipped ball a timely reminder of the talent Britain’s highest ever goalscoring defender possesses. It has not been plain sailing for the club’s captain this season, having been a lightning rod for the ire of fans furious with a season that has left them below Aberdeen in the table. Dropped to the bench, Tavernier would have been forgiven for thinking this was the start of an ignominious end to a career that has seen the right-back amass 329 appearances, dating right back to their time in the Championship. Five trophies in ten years pales in comparison to McGregor but there is a strong case to be made that there could have been even fewer without his contributions over the years. Europe beginning to show wear and tear? Celtic have without a doubt exceeded expectations in Europe, suffering a solitary, albeit emphatic defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The extent of this raised bar crystallised in the disappointment from fans to have only earned a point away to Dinamo Zagreb. Come Sunday, Brendan Rodgers’ men will have almost averaged a game every three days. Much has been made of the squad depth the squad have, with Arne Engels, Liam Scales, Luke McCowan and Luis Palma just some of the options from the bench who would star in every other Premiership side. However the flatness of the draw in Croatia suggests a fatigue that may be just as much mental as it is physical. Most footballers not immune to the grinding machine of modern football and this League Cup final could prove one game too many in such a short space of time. Meanwhile, for all of their European success that has propelled them into the automatic places of the Europa League table, Rangers do not posses that same quality from the bench. Too many rotations are unlikely but fortunately Rangers have yet to show that midweek games produce a weakened weekend performance. So far Clement’s players have won each of the five games domestic games that have followed European fixtures. Although as the Belgian manager will be acutely aware, a cup final against Celtic is an entirely different different beast to tame. History favours Hoops Rangers may be some distance ahead when it comes to the League Cup with twenty-eight wins to Celtic’s twenty-one but the side from the East End have captured seven of the past ten. What is perhaps more prescient to this tie is Rodgers’ own record versus Rangers. In nineteen games the Northern Irishman has lost just one Glasgow derby, winning an impressive fifteen. Celtic were winners in

December 14, 2024

Rangers vs Tottenham: What to expect?

Venue: Ibrox Date: 12/12/24 Time: 20:00 GMT It is their biggest game in Europe this season but an in-form Rangers will feel the stars have aligned to get a result as they welcome a downcast Tottenham to Ibrox. Both sides look to be on converse trajectories with the hosts now undefeated in eight games. Philippe Clement seems to have navigated his side through a turbulent period which saw them fall to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, results which are likely to have put the title out of reach. Meanwhile Ange Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham plunged to its lowest depth so far, watching his side snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Chelsea at the weekend, having confronted a fan for abusing him just a week prior. With both teams sat in eighth and ninth, Rangers ahead by a mere two goals, a result would put either side in pole position for an automatic place. More importantly for the respective managers however, progression to the knockout stages would relieve some of the intense scrutiny surrounding their jobs. European pedigree For all of their domestic woes, winning a solitary Premiership title in thirteen years, Rangers have always found a way to exceed expectations in Europe’s secondary competition. A run to the 2021/22 final was as big a surprise as the scalps they took along the way with Borussia Dortmund, Braga and RB Leipzig all falling before an agonising Aaron Ramsey penalty proved the difference that saw Eintracht Frankfurt snatch the crown. The less said about the Champions League campaign that followed the better. However last season saw Rangers return to the competition that is becoming their bread and butter to complete a double over Real Betis and topping their group before a narrow defeat to Benfica saw them eliminated in the Round of sixteen. There is a noticeable difference in the freedom with which they play away from the burning eyes of Scottish football fans. Whatever the reason, they have managed some impressive victories again this season with Malmo, FCSB and Nice comfortable dispatched with a creditable draw against Conference League champions Olympiakos to boot. Having seemingly put their 4-1 Lyon hiding behind them, Rangers will need all of their experience in the competition to gain an important result, with Manchester United and Union Saint-Gilloise as positions ‘fourth’ through ‘thirteenth’ remain separated by a mere three points. Will the real Tottenham please stand up? The nickname ‘Spursy’ to describe the way the club seem to fall apart under little pressure is arguably a disrespectful one to give a club that continues to find itself in the upper echelons of the Premier League. Yet, it has stuck for a reason. As the jabs and taunts go, Tottenham will produce a masterclass against league leaders only to follow it up with dropped points to eternal strugglers. Having tormented Manchester City in a hugely impressive 4-0 win away from home, the North London side mustered joint one point from nine as they sit just off mid-table. Losses to Ipswich, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth have continue to stunt their season with the manager’s dogmatic approach to attacking football held responsible for the side’s inconsistency. The third highest scoring team in the league this season, Tottenham’s inability to apply to handbrake has been just as much a problem in England as it has been in Europe. Opposition had hardly been world beating when they opened their group stage campaign with wins against Qarabag, Ferencvaros and Troy Parrott’s AZ Alkmaar, but a defeat to Galatasaray and draw with Roma has put a dent in their hopes for automatic qualification. With the continued absence of Guglielmo Vicario, their defence looks even more precarious. Add in defender Cristian Romero criticising the lack of spending in the summer in a now deleted interview with Telemundo Deportes to add fuel to the fire. For all the optimism the disharmony might bring to fans north of the border, Tottenham have a squad packed with some of Europe’s best in Son Heung-min, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski. As both Manchester clubs will know by now, these players can inflict a world of damage on their day.

December 12, 2024

Dundee United pile further misery on Rangers with draw

Rangers 1 – 1 Dundee United Rangers title hopes now hang in the balance as Dundee United pushed the hosts to a draw, the Glasgow side now sit eleven points behind leaders Celtic. United made the home side look amateurish in their defending as Sam Dalby waltzed into the box unmarked to give his side the lead. Nedim Bajrami had tested Jack Walton with a curling shot as the keeper was forced into action on multiple occasions in the first half. Robin Propper thought he had equalised only for an earlier Connor Barron hand ball to see it chalked off. Philipe Clement turned to once forgotten men Ianis Hagi and Danilo to make an impact and was soon rewarded. Despite missing a clear cut chance the Brazilian provided an assist for Vaclav Cerny, the midfielder arguably Rangers’ brightest spark this season. Rangers were not able to get anymore out of the game and they now find themselves in a battle for third with their opponents tonight. A far cry from their title ambitions at the beginning of the season.

November 24, 2024

Danilo: Rangers’ saviour or last chance saloon?

Like a solar eclipse, Danilo’s emergence into public consciousness seems to come around every six months. Unfortunately, just as predictable as the celestial alignment is his immediate return to the treatment room. It is fair to say that the Brazilian has had a torrid time since he arrived as part of Michael Beale’s short lived revolution in a deal said to have been worth up to £6 million. A broken only ten games in, followed by a repeated a long term knee injury means the striker has played only played twenty-five games since signing and been ruled for over double that. After a first start in August against St. Johnstone, his first since December last year, Danilo was beset by yet another setback. Now, once again playing his way back into fitness and with a fixture list that sees Rangers play eight games in December alone, Philippe Clement may have no choice but to give the player another opportunity. Under Beale, Danilo would have found himself paired with Cyriel Dessers or Kemar Roofe but it is clear that Clement will be making no such tactical concessions. Instead, he will be competing with Dessers and summer signing Hamza Igamane for the single berth up front. Luckily for the Ajax academy graduate, this might not be as difficult a proposition as first thought. A hamstrung strike-force The striker’s chance to establish himself in the coming weeks has been made significantly easier by the uninspired performances of his competitors. Dessers has hardly been barren in front of goal, with an average of one every two games but his profligacy and Rangers’ poor form have meant he has also yet to feel the love from Ibrox supporters. Notwithstanding the 6-0 demolition of Ross County, the side have only managed score ten goals in their other ten games. With a seven game goalless run the in the Premiership which only ended in their last outing against Hearts, Dessers has shouldered much of the blame. Igamane, the man whose job it is to provide some competition for Dessers has been unable to convince Clement that he deserves more than a place on the bench, if that. The twenty two year old has managed just one goal all season, grabbing the fourth against FSCB in a comfortable European outing. Restricted to only 252 minutes to make an impression this season, it is difficult to give a thorough assessment of the Moroccan’s talent just yet but his inability to make an impact in his cameo appearances has left the door wide open for Danilo to state his own case. Rangers’ themselves might have very little option but give him the chance. No money, no choice Rangers’ reported loss of loss of £17.2 million in their annual financial report is very much a situation of their own making. The impressive profit made from the sales of Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo and Nathan Patterson seem an age away as the club continue to let players run down their contracts. In the past two summers, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe and Borna Barisic have all left for free whilst Todd Cantwell and Scott Wright brought in less than £1 million combined despite having originally cost over £1.5m. Now sitting in third and with the title having almost run away from them, the board have stood behind Clement. In truth, their poor business model means they cannot afford to sack him and bring in a suitable replacement and as yet another stroke of good fortune for Danilo, the same goes for signing a new striker. Having reportedly spent almost £15 million much for their current set of options up front, the club would be lucky to recoup even a third of that. A sting for fans who have seen Celtic sell Matt O’Riley for almost twenty times what they originally paid, with Nicolas Kuhn likely to depart for a profit that would further widen the financial chasm between the two Glasgow sides. If they stand any chance of selling the Brazilian for what they paid, Danilo will need to be given a platform to attract potential suitors. Can Danilo deliver? Should the former Brazilian youth international be pushed out, there cannot be any complaints about a lack of opportunities to prove himself. For all of Rangers’ attempts to give the striker a run, seven consecutive games is the most he has managed before succumbing to injury. However, no chances have been taken as Danilo’s third coming has very much been a slow burner. A goalscoring return for Rangers’ B team in the Challenge Cup was followed by cameo appearances against Motherwell and Hearts for a combined half hour and those will surely increase as the fixtures come thick and fast throughout the winter. With the condensed calendar, the waning performances of his competitors and the lack of purchasing power of his own club, the stars have aligned for what could be his final chance at the club. Danilo has had a golden chance laid at his feet, it is now up to him to take it.

November 16, 2024

Rangers