Postpublished at 11:45 GMT 5 January
Hibernian v Rangers (12:00)
Rangers may be suffering from a spot of travel sickness this term, but they can boast a fine record in EH7, unbeaten in their past 13 visits in all competitions (W8 D5).
The first of Hamza Igamane's three goals opened the scoring early for Rangers at Easter Road
Rangers' inconsistency was laid bare again as they followed their excellent Old Firm win by losing a lead twice at in-form Hibernian, despite Hamza Igamane scoring a hat-trick in a six-goal Scottish Premiership classic.
Ibrox boss Philippe Clement insisted his team were "on the right track" after a superb Old Firm derby win.
But a third straight away game without a victory will only heighten concerns about his side's inability to maintain the level they showed on Thursday.
David Gray's men, meanwhile, showed superb character to firstly come from two down before Rocky Bushiri's 83rd-minute equaliser ensured Hibs' unbeaten run stretched to six games.
Criticised for his rotation in recent weeks, Clement named a rare unchanged side in a bid to alleviate fears about his team's consistency.
The front four of Igamane, Vaclav Cerny, Nedim Bajrami and Ianis Hagi pulled apart a ragged Hibs backline in an electric opening, during which the visitors scored twice.
Hagi firstly teed up Igamane to finish emphatically after just four minutes before Bajrami crossed for the Moroccan striker to power in a header.
Clement's men should have been out of sight by the time Hibs gained any kind of composure.
But just seconds after the VAR officials looked at a potential red-card challenge from Mohamed Diomande on Nicky Cadden, Martin Boyle dragged a finish into the far corner.
And the game was level just after the hour when Hagi bundled over Josh Campbell, allowing Boyle, who rolled back the years with a stunning display, to smash in from the spot.
Rangers thought they had three points back in the bag when the superb Igamane again finished first time from a Vaclav Cerny cross.
But Bushiri capitalised on unconvincing goalkeeping from Liam Kelly to head in from a corner nine minutes later.
There was time for Igamane to crack the far post and Boyle to curl just wide in an incredible finale, but an epic encounter would finish level.
It means leaders Celtic can extend their advantage at the top to 13 points when they host St Mirren later on Sunday (15:00 GMT).
Clement will not face any criticism for tinkering with his starting line-up in this one, but he will face intense scrutiny for another disappointing result on the road.
His side have dropped points in seven of their 10 away league games this term, a run of form that simply makes a title challenge impossible.
The Belgian is without his first-choice goalkeeper, first-choice right-back and arguably his first-choice centre-back pairing, but that was not an issue in the derby.
Clement will rue missed chances in the opening period before Hibs woke up, with Bajrami, Igamane and Cerny all passing up good opportunities. But scoring three and not winning cannot be an option for any Rangers side.
Taking a glass-half-full view, Clement has an absolute gem in Igamane. The 22-year-old's sublime display in Leith cements his status as Rangers' first pick in the centre of their attack.
A late Bushiri leveller in chaotic 3-3 draw with Aberdeen in November sparked Hibs' upturn in form. The centre-back's late leveller in this one keeps momentum rolling.
Gray's back three were pulled apart throughout the opening period and it was unfolding into a sobering afternoon, but the character they have shown in recent weeks to turn their season around was on view again in a spirited comeback draw.
They have now won 10 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season - only Dundee United (11) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.
In fact, it could have been better for the hosts had Dwight Gayle or Lewis Miller converted headers with the score at 2-2, the latter watching his come off a post.
But Gray will be more than satisfied with a draw, given the fact his team were two down in the first half before going behind again on minute 74.
Hibs head coach David Gray: "We changed the shape a bit after 25 minutes to try and get a foothold in the game. You give up a bit of possession, stick with that back five and keep our midfielders doing the running rather than the full-backs jumping, and we got in 2-1 at half-time, which was huge.
"For the effort and character shown in the second half, I think we at least deserve a point.
"There are a lot of things to still work on, when you look at how we started the game and conceding three goals, but full credit to the players for the effort and desire shown. All in all, we're in a good place. Confidence is high and we need to keep moving forward."
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "I saw a lot of good things from my team, good football, good goals, but also a goal against with the penalty that I don't understand.
"It's a collision between two players or even the attacking player maybe on full speed tries to slow down to get a contact. You can give the foul to both sides. You can never give a penalty for a situation like that. That was a decisive moment. It gave Hibs a lot of energy and belief."
'You can never give a penalty for a situation like that'
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 7 | 48 | 53 |
| |
20 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 16 | 21 | 40 |
| |
21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 30 | 22 | 8 | 34 |
| |
21 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 30 | 2 | 34 |
| |
21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 34 | -7 | 30 |
| |
22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 27 | 37 | -10 | 27 |
| |
22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 26 |
| |
21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 33 | 37 | -4 | 25 |
| |
22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 38 | -16 | 25 |
| |
22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 25 | 37 | -12 | 24 |
| |
22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 31 | -6 | 23 |
| |
22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 24 | 44 | -20 | 15 |
|
Manager: David Gray
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Manager: Philippe Clement
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: David Gray
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Manager: Philippe Clement
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Hibernian have lost each of their last eight meetings with Rangers in all competitions; only in November 1999 and January 2004 have Hibs ever lost more in a row to the Gers (both runs of 9).
Rangers are unbeaten in 13 visits to Hibernian in all competitions (W8 D5), their joint-longest ever such run away to Hibs (also 13 in a row from March 2007 to December 2011).
Hibernian have won both of their last two home league games, as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W2 D4 L5).
Rangers have only lost one of their last nine league games (W6 D2), keeping six clean sheets in this period.
Only Adam Idah (4) has scored more goals as a substitute in the Scottish Premiership this season than Rangers’ Danilo (3) and Hibernian’s Dwight Gayle (3). Danilo has scored in both of his last two substitute appearances in the competition, while Gayle has scored twice in his last three from the bench.