Rangers v Hibernian
Ryan Jack's goal hauled Rangers back level for a second time at Ibrox and gave them the platform to earn a debut win for Michael Beale

Rangers had a lot of anxiety to get through before they came from behind twice to edge out Hibs.

Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack scored close-range goals in the second half to give Rangers the victory.

The first half was fraught for Beale with Hibs leading twice in the first 16 minutes, through Ryan Porteous and Kevin Nisbet.

The Rangers manager said that they had a chat at half-time and that they should play the game for what it is.

It went in the first time. After everyone gets anxious and people take too many touches, I asked them to go back to the way we practice. There would be opportunities in the second half.

There is a lot of anxiety to get through, but the character of the team is good and we dominated in the second half and we deserved to win the game.

Prior to the World Cup break, Hibs had lost six of their seven games and that wretched run has continued.

The pressure is growing on the manager. For some time, his stuttering side appeared to be on their way to a positive outcome, but they faded in the second half.

The pre-game optimism had been around Rangers and they responded with a loud noise as proceedings began.

A looping shot was fired from the edge of the box by Elie Youan. There was a warning that wasn't taken seriously. The opener was powered home by Porteous from the corner.

It's the perfect start for Hibs. There is a nightmare scenario for Rangers.

They came roaring back. Sakala was able to find space on the left and was able to find the corner over David Marshall.

That made the crowd feel comfortable. Only for a short time. Nisbet broke into space and smashed a shot high into the net with the outside of his boot, in his first game since February.

It was a great run and full of venom, one that may have been caused by the frustration of being out for so long.

Josh Campbell was released down the left by Porteous and his drive was close to the goal, but it clipped the side net.

Rangers slowly began to assert themselves and pin their opponents back, but they met a side hard-wired to block, harry, do anything to keep their lead.

The veteran stood up and saved his back line when Youan raced in one-on-one against him. It proved crucial.

The half-time boos may have led to a rethinking. They had to win this. Whatever was said was effective.

After a structural reshuffle, they took complete control. From a corner, Jack was able to poke his head out to score.

You could sense it coming and then there was a second goal. James Tavernier slid a lovely ball inside to Tillman, who sidestepped his man and laid the ball to a gleeful Morelos to slot home.

From there, Rangers did what they had to do. Don't lose, win.

Player of the match

Malik Tillman
There were a number of Hibs candidates in the first half, but Malik Tillman made the difference at crucial moments to turn it around as Rangers responded well to adversity. Moments of quality made the difference.

Beale's Rangers pass stern test - analysis

This became the sternest test for Rangers against a Hibs side that looked rejuvenated in the first half.

Johnson's men played superbly for 45 minutes, and it was an exciting contest for most of the time.

The home side went into the break with a 2-0 deficit. He got a response if he tinkered his formation alone, or if he had some half-time man-management or Hibs dropping a level.

The new manager will be happy with that. In the first half, there were defensive frailties that everyone could see.

The result gave them something to build on and they got that.

What they said

The manager of the Rangers said that they need to improve. Leon King passed away this morning. It was not ideal. He was part of the group. There was a problem with Antonio Colak's calf.

The players have had a lot thrown at them. It wasn't close to what I wanted it to be. There's a lot of work that needs to be done.

The first 45 minutes were positive and I thought we were in control of the game.

The boys put their bodies on the line to defend. We had some players who hadn't played 90 minutes in the second half. In the first half, we were able to get up to the ball, but not in the second half.

There is a lot to build on. The performance needs more time. We will be able to. It's great to have Nisbet and McGeady on the field.

What's next?

After a weekend off for both sides, Rangers and Hibs will play each other on Christmas Eve.

  • RangersRangersRangers
  • HibernianHibernianHibernian
  • Line-ups
  • Match Stats
  • Live Text

Formation 4-2--3-1.

2Tavernier19Sands4Lundstram44Devine
  • 1McGregor
  • 2Tavernier
  • 19Sands
  • 4Lundstram
  • 44DevineSubstituted forDaviesat 87'minutes
  • 18KamaraSubstituted forArfieldat 87'minutes
  • 8Jack
  • 30SakalaSubstituted forDavisat 65'minutesBooked at 88mins
  • 71TillmanSubstituted forWrightat 87'minutes
  • 14Kent
  • 20MorelosSubstituted forMatondoat 90+3'minutes

Substitutes

  • 10Davis
  • 17Matondo
  • 23Wright
  • 26Davies
  • 29McCann
  • 33McLaughlin
  • 37Arfield
  • 49Fraser
  • 51Lowry

Formations 4 and 4-2.

12Cadden33Bushiri4Hanlon3Cabraja7Magennis5Porteous11Newell23Youan
  • 1Marshall
  • 12CaddenSubstituted forMcKirdyat 86'minutes
  • 33Bushiri
  • 4HanlonSubstituted forHendersonat 87'minutes
  • 3CabrajaSubstituted forStevensonat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 7MagennisBooked at 38minsSubstituted forMelkersenat 68'minutes
  • 5PorteousBooked at 60mins
  • 11Newell
  • 23Youan
  • 32Campbell
  • 15NisbetSubstituted forMcGeadyat 80'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Kenneh
  • 13Schofield
  • 16Stevenson
  • 18Henderson
  • 19Mitchell
  • 20Melkersen
  • 22McKirdy
  • 25Fish
  • 46McGeady
  1. The match ended with Rangers winning 3 to 2.

  2. The second half ended with Rangers and Hibs tied at 2.

  3. The attempt was not successful. lie Youan missed from the centre of the box.

  4. The Rabbi Matondo had a foul.

  5. Ryan Porteous takes a free kick.

  6. The Rangers made a substitution. Rabbi Matondo is the new one.

  7. A yellow card is shown to Lewis Stevenson.

  8. Ryan Kent takes a free kick.

  9. The foul was committed by Lewis Stevenson.

  10. There is a free kick on the right wing.

  11. The foul was committed by Lewis Stevenson.

  12. The attempt was saved. The shot from outside the box was saved in the center of the goal. lie youan assisted.

  13. Steven Davis received a yellow card for a bad foul.

  14. Steven Davis was the victim of a foul.

  15. There is a free kick on the left wing.

  16. The substitution was for Hibs. Lewis Stevenson is the new person.

  17. The Rangers made a substitution. Ben Davies takes the place of Adam Devine.

  18. The Rangers made a substitution. Scott Arfield is the new person.

  19. The Rangers made a substitution. Scott Wright is the new person in the picture.

  20. The substitution was for Hibs. Paul Hanlon has been replaced by a new person.