RANGERS will look to build on their convincing Old Firm victory on Sunday lunchtime as they travel to the capital to take on resurgent Hibernian.
Rangers surprised many – including myself – as they handed bitter-rivals Celtic their first defeat of the Premiership season as they claimed a resounding 3-0 victory.
That result did continue their strong record at Ibrox this season, with The Teddy Bears dropping just two points across their opening 10 league matches in front of their supporters (W9-D1-L0), but it’s their away form that has been their Achilles heel.
Phillipe Clement’s side have won just three of their nine Premiership clashes away from home (W3-D2-L4), dropping points in defeat at St Mirren and drawing at Motherwell in their past two away fixtures.
Club legend David Gray endured a tough start to life as Hibees boss, as he won just one of his opening 14 Premiership matches in charge (W1-D6-L7).
Since then, the Leith club have won five of their next seven Premiership matches – with their only loss in that run coming away at champions Celtic – but they would’ve been frustrated to only draw 1-1 away at rock-bottom St Johnstone on Thursday despite playing around an hour with a man advantage.
How the bookies view it: Gers Favourites
BoyleSports make Rangers 1/2 favourites to back up their Old Firm victory and claim just their fourth away win this season.
The same firm have a home success at 4/1, whilst the draw is 10/3.
Head to head: Gers dominance against Hibees
Rangers are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Hibs, winning 10 of them, with the Leith club’s last success over Rangers coming in the 2021/22 League Cup semi-final.
In fact, The Hibees have failed to beat Rangers in the Premiership since 2018.
Players to watch: Danilo to deliver again?
Danilo came off the bench to grab Rangers’ third against Celtic on Thursday, with the Brazilian now scoring in five of his past seven appearances for The Gers.
Dwight Gayle grabbed Hibs’s equaliser in Perth on Thursday, with the veteran forward now scoring in three of his last five matches.
Probable line-ups
Hibs will be without Mykola Kukharevych, Marvin Ekpiteta and Kieron Bowie.
Rangers will have a bit of a defensive crisis, as they will be without captain James Tavernier, John Souttar, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Leon Balogun and goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Hibernian: Smith, Miller, Bushiri, Iredale, Cadden, Newell, Triantis, Cadden, Youan, Campbell, Boyle
Rangers: Kelly, Yilmaz, Propper, Sterling, Jefte, Raskin, Diomande, Hagi, Bajrami, Cerny, Igamane
Anything else catch the eye?
Rangers were convincing winners over Celtic on Thursday, but their home form this season hasn’t been an issue for them, it’s been away from home they have looked vulnerable.
The last two, in particular, they have shipped two goals and given the host of injuries they have in defence and in goal, I can’t see them shutting out a resurgent Hibs side that has found the back of the net in each of their past nine Premiership contests in front of their supporters.
Both Teams to Score has paid out in seven of Hibs’s previous nine league clashes at Easter Road, with Over 2.5 Goals also landing in three of their past four and four of their last seven – and given the same has landed in The Gers’ last two away – I’m happy to have a play on there being at least three goals, with both teams contributing.
This Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian and Rangers will be played on Jan 5, 2025 and kick off at 12:00. Check below for our tipsters best Hibernian vs Rangers prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
