Hibernian FC 3 - 2 Glasgow Rangers: Hibs earn cup final dress rehearsal win over Rangers

Posted Thursday, April 21, 2016 by PA

Hibernian fired out a cup final warning to Rangers as they boosted their hopes of catching Falkirk with a 3-2 Easter Road win over the Ladbrokes Championship winners.

Alan Stubbs' side made the most of their opportunity as Gers let their standards slip after dumping rivals Celtic out of the William Hill Scottish Cup on Sunday.

That triumph set up a May 21 final with the Edinburgh men but it was the Leith hosts who put down a marker for the Hampden clash.

Jason Cummings' eighth goal against Gers in the last two seasons gave Hibs an early lead before a gaffe by Wes Foderingham saw the Ibrox men fall two down for the first time on league duty this season.

There was no guard of honour from the home side for Mark Warburton's champions but another mistake from Easter Road goalkeeper Mark Oxley - restored to Alan Stubbs' line-up despite Conrad Logan's Hampden heroics in their semi-final win over Dundee United on Saturday - did gift the visitors a goal back as Jason Holt prodded home.

However, a third from Norwegian full-back Niklas Gunnarsson ensured Barrie McKay's second wondergoal in the space of three days counted for nothing.

The victory now moves Stubbs' team to within three points of the second-placed Bairns with a game in hand.

The Light Blues have received unending praise for the attacking game-plan they deployed while overcoming Ronny Deila's Hoops.

But the defensive focus which saw them past the Premiership leaders evaporated inside the opening five minutes as they handed Cummings the opener.

James Tavernier only had to pick out a blue jersey as he took a throw in but instead lobbed in between Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson, leaving the Hibs striker to steam through and smash his 24th goal of the campaign past Foderingham.

Oxley denied Tavernier his chance to make instant amends as the keeper stood up to block the right-back's lob but a blunder by the stopper at the other end put Hibs two-up after 18 minutes.

There looked little threat as Stokes threw over a cross from the right but Foderingham got his feet in a muddle and ended up clawing the ball into his own net.

Oxley, though, was just as culpable as the visitors grabbed themselves a lifeline four minutes before the break. Tavernier stood a high ball up to the back post but the Hibs number one's attempt to push it over his crossbar backfired as the ball cannoned off the woodwork leaving Holt to turn it in.

Rangers looked brighter after the break but it was Hibs who struck next on 57 minutes. John McGinn's deep corner was headed back into the six-yard box by Paul Hanlon. Tavernier tried to nod it clear but the ball only reached Gunnarsson who lashed home his first Hibs goal from five yards out.

Stokes had Foderingham at full stretch with a free-kick but Hibs had to cling on in stoppage time after McKay rocketed home a 30-yard beauty for Gers with five minutes to go.