Rangers 4-0 Hibernian: Philippe Clement in winning debut to end Montgomery's unbeaten run
- Published
Philippe Clement led Rangers to a convincing win in his debut as manager
Philippe Clement's reign as Rangers manager got off to a perfect start with a comfortable Scottish Premiership victory that ends Nick Montgomery's unbeaten run in charge of Hibernian.
Two thunderous Abdallah Sima finishes either side of a fine strike from Nicolas Raskin sent the Ibrox side on their way to a win that lifts them to within four points of leaders Celtic.
Cyriel Dessers calmly slotted the late fourth as Hibs meekly surrendered a six-game unbeaten run, five under Montgomery, to remain in ninth spot.
Inflicting a ninth consecutive defeat on Hibs at Ibrox had been aided and abetted by some slapstick defending.
As you might expect from a side looking to impress their new manager, Rangers started brightly.
There were still signs of the fragility they displayed under Michael Beale as Hibs' Dylan Vente forced the first save and Lewis Miller's long throw caused panic in the home penalty box.
Clement suffered a blow when Croatia left-back Borna Barisic was forced off after only 10 minutes and it looked like old habits remained when restored striker Dessers volleyed wastefully at goalkeeper David Marshall.
However, home nerves were settled moments later when fleet-footed Sima burst clear through a clutch of Hibs players and drilled a low shot into Marshall's far corner.
Hibs somehow survived a goalmouth melee when Jordan Obita cleared off his own line from Scott Wright, Sima fired wide and, after a VAR check, it was decided that a shot in between had struck Joe Newell's hand off his knee and therefore no penalty.
The second eventually came when Raskin fired low past Marshall from 25 yards for the first goal of his Rangers career, with VAR ruling that Newell had not been fouled in the build-up.
Sam Lammers' woes in front of goal continued when the attacking midfielder fired against a post, but after Dessers had two shots blocked in front of goal, Sima showed him the way to goal.
Dessers finally got his name of the scoresheet after being sent through by substitute Todd Cantwell before Ibrox rose to laud a clinical winning start to the Clement era.
Player of the match - Abdallah Sima (Rangers)
Abdallah Sima was the one big success story of Rangers' summer spending spree and the on-loan Brighton forward continued to impress under his new manager with a clinical double
Clement sows seeds; Montgomery back to drawing board - analysis
Clement said before kick-off he was "curious to see how fast the little seeds that we planted this week will grow".
Only time will tell whether this emphatic victory was down to the famed new manager bounce, Hibs' inadequacies, or the fact that, despite his protestations, he indeed is Harry Potter with a magic wand.
His first starting line-up gave little hint of what differences the Belgian might bring given his three changes were forced by injuries.
There were suggestions his players had responded to Clement's call for extra aggression and willingness to play the ball forward early.
However, there remained question marks at the back, there was a lack of fluency at times and the likes of Lammers, Wright and Dessers, his goal apart, continue to look shot of confidence.
Like his Rangers counterpart, Montgomery had shown plenty of attacking intent with his formation.
However, Hibs' unbeaten run had looked fragile given they were outplayed last time out in the Edinburgh derby away to Hearts and their Ibrox game-plan proved to be over-ambitious.
It was an unhappy 550th Hibs appearance for Paul Hanlon as the centre-half was restored to the starting line-up, but he was not the only one to find himself all at sea as the visitors consistently gave up possession too easily. Montgomery will need a new battle plan the next time he visits Ibrox.
What they said
'I saw what I wanted to see, dominant football' - Clement
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "You see that, although it was only two days, the players want to do the things that we showed them.
"You see the guys that understand it fast and the guys that need more time, but I saw what I wanted to see - to play dominant, attacking football with a good pressing game. The best teams in the world make mistakes - what is important is your reaction and our reaction was good."
'Away at Ibrox you don't expect any favours' - Montgomery
Hibs head coach Nick Montgomery: "I am not going to change the way we play. I thought mistakes cost us today. The first goal it's nothing to do with the way we play and it gives them a lift. The second goal, I genuinely think it was a foul on Joe Newell.
"I've been here six weeks and that's the first defeat. It definitely wasn't our day today, We move on and can take some positives from the game."
What's next?
Rangers visit Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday (17:45 BST) before hosting Hearts in the league next Sunday (15:00), 24 hours after Hibs entertain Celtic.