The current Rangers team have been branded the worst in their 132 year history.
They have now gone EIGHT games and the whole of November without a win. The last time they went through November without a win was in 1891 and yesterday’s defeat to Hibernian meant that the current team are the worst in their HISTORY.
Despite this landmark and despite falling 11 points behind Hibernian and only 3 points from the bottom 6, David Murray has said that nothing has changed and the manager situation will still be assessed in early December after the game with Inter Milan.
There is still a long way to go in the season but Rangers could find themselves needing to win the Scottish Cup to assure they qualify for European football next season.
McLeish gave young Ross McCormack and Chris Burke starting places and kept Francis Jeffers in the side despite the fact he has done nothing for Rangers since arriving in August.
Rangers were outplayed by classy Hibernian in the first half and fully deserved to go in at the interval 2 goals up.
The first Hibs goal came from talented youngster Derek Riordan. Sproule fired a ball across Ronald Waterreus’ goal and Derek Riordan tapped the ball home to give the Edinburgh team the lead.
The goal was coming and it was deserved as Hibernian were piling on the pressure on a Rangers team low in confidence. Moments earlier Garry O’Connor had a header saved by Waterreus after Riordan curled a free-kick into the box.
After the goal, Hibernian continued to control the game and in the 25th minute they got their second after Garry O’Connor superbly volleyed home a shot inside the box.
Rangers were struggling to cope with the young pacey Hibernian side and McLeish decided to bring Hemdani on for Rae midway through the first half.
McLeish decided to take Jeffers off at half-time and replaced him with Steven Thompson. Jeffers was again anonymous and didn’t offer anything to Rangers at all.
Thompson couldn’t manage to spark Rangers into life however and Hibernian continued to dominate.
Burke tried to create things for Rangers but badly needed his team mates to move into space for him and get onto the end of his crosses.
Rangers somehow managed to get a goal back and it was young Burke who set captain Ferguson up for the shot at the edge of the box which somehow found it’s way through the packed box and into the back of the Hibs net.
This was to be Burke’s last contribution as he was replaced by Lovenkrands. McCormack moved over to the right hand side, Namouchi moved up front and Lovenkrands went on the left.
Lovenkrands done well in the time he had, he looked lively although couldn’t manage to create many chances for the strikers.
Rangers best chance for an equaliser fell to Hamed Namouchi when the ball fell to him inside the box, he had an open goal but somehow managed to fire it over the bar. To be fair to him though, he did take it on the volley and it wasn’t an easy chance to take.
After a ten minute spell where Rangers took the game to Hibs, the home team got back in control of the game and held out well for the victory.
To make matters worse for Rangers, captain Barry Ferguson was sent off in the dying seconds for a second yellow card. It seemed a bit of a harsh decision by Stuart Dougal, it wasn’t a reckless tackle and there was only seconds left of injury time.
So another Rangers defeat and surely Alex McLeish will go soon regardless of the result against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
This is a poor poor side and it’s hard to imagine how anyone can lift this team from their rut.
Player Ratings
Ronald Waterreus 6
Couldn’t do anything about the two Hibernian goals.
Alan Hutton 5
Terrorised by Sproule.
Ian Murray 5
A poor return to his former home.
Marvin Andrews 6
Tried his best, was even sent up front by McLeish towards the end.
Soti Kyrgiakos 6
Not the worst player on the field.
Hamed Namouchi 5
Should have scored in the second half.
Chris Burke 6
Unlucky to be subsituted in the second half, set up Rangers goal.
Alex Rae 4
Booked early on and looked to pick up an injury before coming off midway through the first half to make way for Hemdani.
Barry Ferguson 5
Looking low in confidence although he did get the Rangers goal. Sent off in the dying seconds.
Ross McCormack 5
Tried to make runs up the wing but unaffective.
Francis Jeffers 2
Didn’t even notice he was on the field until he was subbed.
Brahim Hemdani 5
Quiet game.
Steven Thompson 4
Put in 100% as usual but didn’t do too much.
Looked lively down the left but failed to create anything.
Manager Rating
Alex McLeish 1/10 – A real nice guy and a legend as a player. Has done well in the past as Manager but his time is up. A likeable guy but should go now while he at least still has a little bit of respect.
Opponent Rating
Tony Mowbray 9/10 – Has worked wonders at Hibs.