Hibernian

We asked for your thoughts after Hibs were defeated 3-1 by Rangers at Ibrox.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Mark: That's top six more or less gone. Another failed managerial experiment. Killie, St Mirren and Dundee all have much smaller turnovers, but they also have better, more competent people running their clubs and managing their teams. That's why they are in the top six and we aren't.

George: Thought we were OK. VAR again. Never a pen - why doesn't the ref stick with his decision? Apart from that result was about right, the Rangers squad is so strong. They got better after their subs came on. As for top 6, it's Dundee's to lose. We must win both remaining games, and hope.

John: Never a penalty or booking. Performance wasn’t that bad but we need to make sure we finish top six.

Kenny: Poor performance. There is no heart in this team and that can only come from the manager. The writing is on the wall again. Hibs are are a big team and we need a manager that can deliver, a manager with a track record. Right now we are on the road to nowhere.

Darren: Getting anything from Ibrox these days isn’t an easy task, especially when your defence ships goals like they’re going out of fashion. If Nick Montgomery wants to be successful then he needs to bring in two new centre-backs who can shore us up at the back.

Martin: Can’t see Montgomery here next season. With the level of investment coming, a better manager must be lined up

Anon: We need to manage expectations. Rangers defensively at home are tough and they know how to stifle our play in the final third. Top six is not in our hands but the final run-in either way can be used as a perfect training development window for next season.

Manager Nick Montgomery bemoaned "basic errors" in Hibernian's 3-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip

Did you make the trip to Glasgow or follow from home?

Wherever you were, we want to know what you made of Hibs' showing at Ibrox. Are you confident your side can still finish in the top six?

Give us a shout.

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Hibs manager Nick Montgomery told BBC Scotland: "It was good in parts but not good enough to beat a very good Rangers team. I thought we showed good character to get back into the game.

"We had a couple of chances but we didn't deserve anything today. I think we frustrated them in periods. We have to defend better.

"The timing of conceding that goal was disappointing. Getting in at 1-1, we could have frustrated them. We have to show a little bit more composure in and around the box.

"We prepare now for two big games. What we can control is the next game. This time of year, every point is vital. We're fighting for the top six so we'll do everything we can.

"We're a brave team. It's not just one person. It doesn't matter now, we move on from today and look forward to next week."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Ibrox

Image source, SNS

Hibs kept this encounter competitive for a long time, playing some nice football.

They will wonder whether things could have turned out differently for them had they been able to avoid conceding in the seventh minute of time added on in the first half.

They'll now try to push for the top six, and welcomed back forward Martin Boyle for a second half cameo after his bad head-knock in the Scottish Cup defeat to Rangers at Easter Road.

Still, the long wait for a league win at Ibrox continues. It's something they haven't savoured since John McGinn scored in a 2-1 victory in February 2018.

What a signing Myziane Maolida has turned to be.

His seventh goal since arriving in the capital was exceptionally well taken, fending off Rangers defenders and finding the perfect finish.

The Hertha Berlin loanee has added an entirely new dimension to Nick Montgomery's attack.

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There's no changes to the Hibs XI that put in one of the best performances of Nick Montgomery's tenure to swat Livingston aside before the international break.

Welcome news on the bench is the return of winger Martin Boyle, who suffered concussion when the sides met earlier this month at Easter Road in the Scottish Cup.

• Follow our live coverage

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Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Lundstram, Diomande, Cantwell, Wright, Silva, Dessers.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Lawrence, Matondo, Sima, Sterling, Balogun, King, Raskin, McCausland.

Hibernian: Marshall, Cadden, Fish, Bushiri, Obita, Triantis, Newell, Marcondoes, Youan, Le Fondre, Maolida.

Substitutes: Wollacott, Hanlon, Levitt, Boyle, Mayenda, Stevenson, Tavares, Moriah-Welsh, Whittaker.

Image source, SNS

Chris Cadden is delighted to be back in a Hibs jersey after "forgetting" how much he missed football during his injury lay-off.

The 27-year-old was out for nearly year but is now contributing for Nick Montgomery's side as they look to cement a place in the top six.

“It has been really good since I have come back,” Cadden told Hibs TV.

"I've been trying to enjoy it as much as I can, to be honest. You forget how much you miss football when you are out, you miss that Saturday buzz and all the games so it has been brilliant to get back in the swing of things.

“It has been good, I have been trying to do the best I can. There is always going to be that transitional period when you are out for nine months, but I think I have done alright and given a good account of myself.

“The body is feeling good and ready to go. I have had three good games before the international break.

“Physically I can’t complain, the medical staff and physio staff have been great with me and it is a real credit to them that I have been able to play three games back to back in such a short space of time.”

Rangers' Kieran Dowell, Ross McCausland, Abdallah Sima and Dujon Sterling have been back in training following recent injuries of varying severity but Oscar Cortes, Danilo, Ryan Jack and Ridvan Yilmaz miss out against Hibs.

Josh Campbell and Lewis Miller have been back in Hibernian training and the latter is in contention to feature at Ibrox.

Nick Montgomery has called on Hibs to show their "bravery" in their game at Ibrox against Rangers, as they aim to secure a spot in the top six of the Scottish Premiership.

Dundee are just two points behind Hibs with a game in hand, and Montgomery says every point is crucial in their final three matches before the split.

"We have got these nine points to play for before the split and we have to try and get as many as we can," he told Hibs TV.

"The focus is purely on Rangers on Saturday, we know the task in hand, it is a difficult task but we go there off the back of some good form, good momentum.

"There is stuff riding for both teams, at this time in the season there is pressure for both teams. We are under no illusions about the task ahead of us, we are confident that we can go and give a good account of ourselves.

"We have already shown that no matter where we go we have got the bravery to play. We know that we have got players that can handle big moments, big situations and big atmosphere and there is no bigger than going to Ibrox when they are needing the win after a couple of weeks with no game.

"We obviously need points to make sure we give ourselves the best opportunity to get in the top six. It has got all the ingredients for a good game."

Image source, SNS

Nick Montgomery spoke to HibsTV, external as his side prepare for Saturday's trip to face Rangers.

Here are the main points:

• Montgomery gave a positive update on Martin Boyle who has been back in training and is "raring to go", adding that the international break was a good chance for him to focus on recovery.

• Both Josh Campbell and Lewis Miller have been back in training. Campbell should be fully ready by next weekend while Miller could be in contention for the trip to Ibrox, but that decision will be made on Saturday.

• Says there will be a "big atmosphere" at Ibrox in the game against Rangers.

• Knows how big the task at hand is this weekend, but is confident his side can "give a good account of themselves".

• Knows the players have to be brave when going to Ibrox and says the tie has "all the ingredients for a good game".

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Three weeks on from their Scottish Cup meeting, Rangers and Hibs are at it again in the Premiership.

The incentive for Rangers is the chance to go back top of the table, at least until Celtic visit Livingston on Sunday.

For Hibs, it's about the top six and holding off the threat of seventh-placed Dundee, who are away to St Johnstone at the same time.

There have been nine goals in matches between Rangers and Hibs this season. The Ibrox side have scored them all.

Rangers are aiming for a seventh successive win against the Edinburgh side, with Hibs last taking a point early last season. The Easter Road men's last win over Rangers was in the 2021 League Cup semi-finals and their most recent league victory came in Govan in February 2018.

Rangers' 2-0 cup success at Easter Road earlier this month stands as their only win in the past four outings and Philippe Clement's side have lost their last two home matches; to Motherwell and Benfica.

Rangers haven't lost three consecutive games at Ibrox for 12 years.

Hibs have picked up four points against the bottom two since that cup defeat and scored 12 goals in six league games, but the visitors require a huge improvement since they have not laid a glove on Rangers this term.

While it is a key objective, reaching the top six will have no impact on the major rebuilding job planned for Hibernian during a busy summer, according to manager Nick Montgomery. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, SNS

• Rangers’ James Tavernier has been involved in more goals (22) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season – scoring 14 goals and providing eight assists. Of the eight players to have scored more than 10 goals this season, Tavernier has the best shot conversion rate (24.14%).

• Hibs are unbeaten across their last four away matches in the league, although all four matches have been draws. It’s their longest run of consecutive draws on the road since May 2018 (also four).

• Rangers have lost each of their last two home matches across all competitions (against Motherwell and Benfica). The Ibrox side haven’t lost three consecutive matches at home since March 2012 under Ally McCoist.

• Hibs have won just one of their last 10 matches against Rangers across all competitions (D1 L8), a 3-1 win in the Scottish League Cup semi-final in 2021.

• Rangers are unbeaten in their last 21 top-flight matches against Hibs (W15 D6), an unbeaten run across four different permanent managers (Steven Gerrard, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and Philippe Clement). It’s their joint-longest unbeaten run against Hibs in the top-flight (also 21 unbeaten between 1912 and 1922).

Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery is open to signing on-loan Emiliano Marcondes on a permanent deal if it can be done, but warns the Danish playmaker's demands would have to fit within an already established budget. (Edinburgh Evening News, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Hibs travel to Ibrox on Saturday, knowing a win would go a long way to ensuring a top-half finish in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Who would like to see start against Rangers?

Put yourself in Nick Montgomery's shoes and pick your Hibs XI here.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland

Having gone six league games unbeaten before the international break, there is an understandable sense of optimism within Easter Road, one that has been absent for a fair slice of this campaign.

However, with only three matches left to play before the split and a top-six spot still not guaranteed, there is little room for error in the next few weeks.

First up is a trip along the M8 to take on the team who could well be champions come the end of May.

Rangers have won the last nine league meetings between the sides at Ibrox and under Philippe Clement they look formidable.

Nick Montgomery will need every asset at his disposal for the season run-in and all being well, the Englishman may have Martin Boyle and Josh Campbell back from their respective injuries.

Boyle’s head knock against Rangers in the cup match earlier this month meant he missed the draw in Dingwall and victory over Livingston.

The winger's pace is a real weapon and he has unlocked Rangers' defence in the past.

Campbell’s injury came in the final game of 2023 against Hearts at Easter Road and although Emiliano Marcondes and Nathan Moriah-Walsh have done extremely well since joining in January, a fit and firing Campbell would be a welcome addition for the end of the season.

Hibernian "have learned" from their recent Scottish Cup defeat by Rangers, says manager Nick Montgomery, who wants to see the same application in Saturday's Premiership visit to Ibrox. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Former Hibs defender Paul McGinn believes the Easter Road club "have turned a bit of a corner". (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip