A disconsolate Scott Allan pondering the possibility of not being able to join Rangers this season.
By Decord reporter Craig Prawn
Rangers opened the Mark Warburton era in stunning fashion at Easter Road this lunchtime, with a stunning 6-2 win over a strong Hibernian side.
It had all seemed so promising for Hibs, taking the lead after 14 minutes with a solo goal from Sam Stanton as Warbs’ team appeared to struggle to find their feet to begin with.
Hibernian should have doubled their lead on 30 minutes, when Liam Fontaine headed the ball wide from six yards with the goal gaping.
The Easter Road side would soon rue that miss as Rangers finally made the breakthrough their silky build up play deserved in the 39th minute. The energetic Jason Holt was brought down on the edge of the area by Hanlon and new signing from Wigan, James Tavernier, fired a simply stunning freekick into the top corner of the net. It was a strike David Beckham at his best would have been proud of, and helps explain why the Master Baker signed Tavernier instead of the new Dani Alves, Reece Wabara.
Hibs had been on the end of a pummelling since Stanton’s opener and were desperate to hear the half time whistle, but on 44 minutes Rangers took the lead they deserved, and this time it was the turn of another new signing, Martyn Waghorn, to bundle the ball home after impressive work on the flank by Holt had ended with a fine low cross into the six yard box.
The Govan giants went in 2-1 ahead amidst euphoric scenes in the stand occupied by their travelling fans.
The free-scoring Waghorn put Rangers further ahead on 47 minutes, after a superb long pass from ball-playing defender Rob Kiernan had sent him haring in on goal. He cracked a powerful shot low past Oxley for Rangers’ third.
Hibs briefly threatened to get back into the game after a dubious penalty award. Cummings went down under an innocuous challenge from Andy Halliday and to the stunned disbelief of everyone in the ground, referee Willie Collum pointed to the penalty spot. Cummings took the kick himself, sending Wes Foderingham, who made a solid debut, the wrong way from the spot kick.
Two minutes later though, Rangers’ huge travelling support were in dreamland when Andy Halliday placed a sublime chip over Oxley with his left foot, the ball crashing off the underside of the bar and over the line. It was a piece of skill reminiscent of Glenn Hoddle at his imperious best in the mid-80’s and Rangers fans are drooling at the prospect of the man nicknamed, “Summer,” dictating the play from the centre of the pitch.
As if the stellar contribution of the new boys wasn’t enough, the evergreen Kenny Miller arrived as a late substitute and quickly snatched two further goals in the last 13 minutes as the Easter Road side were blown away by a rampant Gers.
By this point, it was difficult to work out if you were watching Rangers or Barcelona. Their quick interpassing was a joy to behold and Hibs were totally outclassed in the end.
This was quite simply a stunning performance by the Govan Galacticos and sends out an ominous warning to the rest of Scottish football. Few SPFL Premiership teams could have lived with them today and you can now get odds of 3/1 at the bookies for Warburton’s Wonders to win a clean sweep of the SPFL Championship, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and Petrofac Training Cup by May next year.
At that price, a flutter on the Govan giants completing an unprecedented quadruple looks like free money.
The Raily Decord 