Hibernian v Rangers, Easter Road, Edinburgh, 10/12/11

A club who have been through umpteen managers in the last few years, punching well below their weight, their latest boss has been pleading for the fans to get behind the team and show some support. No, not Lincoln City, Hibernian. Hibs should really be pushing the likes of champions elect Rangers and Celtic all the way to the end of the season. Instead they sit dangerously close to the trapdoor, once again. Their bitter but impecunious Edinburgh rivals, Hearts are doing somewhat better despite the fact that the Jambo’s don’t seem to be paying their players, not much anyway.


One reason for this lack of success lies in the gate, just 11380 to see Hibs take on the best side in Scotland, Rangers. They predictably filled their end, eventually, the lure of the pub besting the desire to see the start of the game which was a pity as the Gers started off like a train, passing Hibs off the park for five minutes but not threatening the home side’s goal.

                                           Gers fans did get there.................

                                             .............Eventually!

Gradually the home team began to realise that they could compete with their illustrious opponents and started to do what an underdog should, get into their faces but for all the pressure could not get the all important first goal as Paul Hanlon and then Leigh Griffiths failed to find the net when presented with scoring opportunities, Griffiths tamely shooting at Rangers keeper Allan McGregor in a period when, if anything Hibs looked as if they could take the game.

In the second half again, decent pressure from the Edinburgh side but then Rangers were awarded a penalty, which Nikica Jelavic duly converted and the same player was on hand to score from a corner eight minutes later. A further chance was spurned with ten minutes to go and after that there was no way back for the home team which was a bit of an injustice as for long periods Hibernian bossed the match and could have pulled off a shock.

As it was, Rangers carried on their imperious course towards the SPL title, doing what good teams do. Winning whilst not particularly playing well. In the case of Hibernian whilst there was sunshine on Leith, for quite some time, in the end it was sorrow, sorrow, sorrow, sorrow, Hibs hearts were broken. Let’s hope that, as in the Proclaimers song, which the Hibees have adopted and from which these words were taken in case you thought I was even more off my trolley than usual, that tears will be drying come April.

                   Edinburgh, a fantastic city and a brilliant weekend for me. But not for a Hibee.