Rangers 2 - 1 Hibs Sat 22/03/08

Jean Claude Darcheville 40
Nacho Novo (79)

Rangers marked their 50th game of the season with a 2-1 win over Hibernian thanks to goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo.

Hibs - the only Scottish club to win at Ibrox this season - put up a decent fight but the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders returned to winning ways with a crucial victory, despite a late strike from Dean Shiels.

With the Gers now six points clear at the summit, the pressure is on Celtic ahead of Sunday's clash with Gretna before both teams meet in the Old Firm derby of the campaign next weekend.

Rangers knew there was no more room for error following the midweek 1-1 draw with Irn-Bru First Division outfit Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup and manager Walter Smith recalled his big guns for the visit of Hibs.

Skipper Barry Ferguson was back after seeing a specialist about an ankle problem in midweek, while Darcheville recovered from a groin injury to start the game.

Also drafted back into the team after being rested for the cup clash were David Weir, Sasa Papac and Lee McCulloch. That meant Steven Whittaker, Steven Naismith, Charlie Adam, Kris Boyd and Novo were all dropped.

As well as a goalless Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road, the three other meetings between these two teams had been decided by a single goal and this clash had all the signs of being just as closely fought.

The game began at a frantic pace with most of the battles taking place in the middle of the park and with Hibs chasing third spot - and a UEFA Cup slot - and Rangers seeking to heap more pressure on Celtic, there was little to seperate the teams early on.

There was little in the way of clear-cut chances until Filipe Morais released Colin Nish into the box but Carlos Cuellar managed to snuff out the danger before the striker could control the ball and pull the trigger.

At the other end, Darcheville tried to set up McCulloch with a cross from the left but he failed to connect properly with the header and the chance was lost. Papac then drilled over the crossbar after taking advantage of a stray pass from John Rankin.

Rangers found themselves under pressure when the ball broke to Steven Fletcher in the middle of the park and he was allowed to drive forward towards goal but the finish was poor by his standards as he screwed wide of the target.

The breakthrough eventually came five minutes from half-time when Rangers surged into the lead.

Papac provided a lovely pass to make the most of Darcheville's terrific run into the box before the latter smashed the ball into the roof of the net from just outside the six-yard box.

Darcheville could have claimed a second goal shortly after the restart had his finishing been slightly better.

A long throw from Allan McGregor found Steven Davis who punted into the path of the striker. Darcheville found himself one on one with Yves Ma-Kalambay but squandered the opportunity by rifling off the body of the goalkeeper.

Hibs made a double switch as the hour-mark approached, with Morais and Ross Chisholm making way for the introduction of Shiels and Merouane Zemmama.

Fletcher then picked up the first booking of the game for a foul on Kevin Thomson, before goalscorer Darcheville was withdrawn for Novo.

With 20 minutes to go, Hibs knew there was still at least a point up for grabs but Shiels failed to trouble McGregor with a 25-yard drive which was comfortably smothered by the Rangers goalkeeper.

Rangers then claimed for a penalty in a bid to kill off the game when Novo went to ground under pressure from Abdel Zarabi but referee Steve Conroy ignored the pleas.

Novo did manage to wrap up the win after 79 minutes. Davis lobbed the ball into the goalmouth and Chris Hogg's attempted headed clearance fell to the tiny striker who turned and lashed home from 12 yards.

Hibs pulled a goal back with two minutes to go when Shiels lobbed McGregor and his effort came off the crossbar before he followed up to leave the net bulging.

But it proved to be too little too late from the Edinburgh club as Rangers held on for the win.

RANGERS: McGreggor, Broadfoot, Weir, Cuellar, Papac, Dailly, Davis, Thomson, Ferguson, Darcheville (Novo 67), McCulloch (Whittaker 81)

Subs Not Used: Alexander, Furman,Emslie, Naismith, Boyd,

Ref: I Brines

Man-of-the-match: Thomson

Attendance: 50,117