Rangers: ‘Unthinkable’ Hibs situation appalls pundit as Gers expected to pressure Celtic
Hibs’ recent record against Rangers is “unthinkable” according to Tam McManus as Nick Montgomery takes his side to Ibrox this weekend.
Speaking on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show on 25 March host Peter Martin suggested the Light Blues would put pressure on Celtic, with the Hoops playing a day later, when they return to domestic action on Saturday (30 March) with a game in hand, and ex-Easter Road man McManus agreed.
Martin said (47m 10s): “You would imagine that Rangers will have a real chance to put the pressure on Celtic because Hibs haven’t really got a great record against Rangers.”
McManus replied: “No they haven’t recently Peter. I think they’re 13-14 games without a win against Rangers, which is unthinkable.
“Going back through Neil’s [Lennon] time, or even when I was there, we would at least give Rangers a good game and we’d beat them maybe once or twice in a season or two, so it’s a poor record Hibs have got but they’re in great form at the minute.”
He noted that last time Hibs went to Ibrox they were “tanked” 4-0 (21 October) and said scoring the first goal would be “all-important” to potentially take advantage of the home crowd turning on the Light Blues.
Philippe Clement must keep Rangers on track at Ibrox
It is actually nine games without a win over the Gers for Hibs, since their League Cup semi final victory two seasons ago, but that sticks out as their only one in 23 meetings stretching back more than six years.
On paper therefore Rangers should have a great opportunity to bounce back from the disappointment of being knocked out of Europe and the frustration of having their trip to Dundee postponed at the last minute.
However, nobody expected Motherwell to turn up in Govan and take three points in the last SPFL fixture played at Ibrox, but they did just that.
So nothing can be taken for granted in an increasingly tight title race, with the Old Firm derby next up a week later.
That Rangers are even in this position after a dismal start to the season under Michael Beale is impressive, but it would have to go down as a major disappointment to finish the campaign with just the Viaplay Cup from here all the same.
The even-present injury crisis seems the biggest threat to run in, although Philippe Clement may be set for two big boosts on that front with the possible returns of Ridvan Yilmaz and Abdallah Sima for one or both of the two key games.
In other Rangers news, the club have decided not to let an exit-linked player leave.
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