Rangers's Danilo (second left) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the William Hill Premiership match at Easter Road, EdinburghImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Danilo's goal after five minutes won a close game for Rangers

At a glance

  • Danilo curls Rangers into an early lead

  • Both managers make changes early in fascinating battle

  • Thibault Klidje misses gilt-edged chance for Hibs before Jack Butland saves Jamie McGrath penalty as Rangers get consecutive wins

Hibs v Rangers highlights

29/10/25

Danilo's early goal and a late penalty save from Jack Butland gave Rangers victory over Hibernian as Danny Rohl's side emerged from an intense and absorbing contest with back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins.

The Brazilian striker was the ultimate beneficiary of slack Hibs play at the back as he curled in a precise finish after only five minutes.

From there, a fast-paced and fascinating contest unfolded as Rohl and Hibs counterpart David Gray both made tweaks and changes to their team as the momentum swung back and forth.

Hibs, though, were made to rue a huge miss from striker Thibault Klidje and Jamie McGrath's tame spot-kick after Connor Barron felled Junior Hoilett in the final five minutes.

Klidje's chance was given an expected goals rating of almost 0.9, and had the forward stuck his head or any leg out, he would have almost certainly equalised.

Then with time slipping away the usually reliable McGrath did not get enough power behind his penalty as Butland made himself the hero for Rangers.

In the end the greater organisation, intensity, and focus instilled by Rohl was enough to see Rangers over the line as they leap above Hibs into third place.

Analysis: Rohl's Rangers return to basics

Rangers may well be some way off where anyone at the club would like them to be, but there can be no question Rohl has instilled more in a busy eight days than his predecessor Russell Martin managed in three months.

Going with a back three for the second game in a row, Rangers looked far more comfortable in defence, and their change in energy is clear.

Players such as Danilo, Nasser Djiga, and Youssef Chermiti have visibly improved in confidence and focus, with the Brazilian now scoring in consecutive games.

The 36-year-old German coach is also not shy in making changes, rotating five from the victory over Kilmarnock and bringing on James Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama at half-time to try to combat Hibs' growing confidence in midfield.

Ultimately they did not create lots of chances, and relied on some wastefulness from Hibs. But there is far more organisation and edge to Rangers already as they move on to a massive League Cup semi-final against Celtic.

A first clean sheet in 25 away games tells you that.

Hibs will rue their struggles in the final third again, because at times they played attractive football and worked the ball through Rangers.

But too often their play broke down around the box, and the two best chances they fashioned in the second-half were glaringly wasted.

That is a bit of a theme this season and one Gray will look to arrest. The head coach brought Miguel Chaiwa on after just 23 minutes to help them in midfield and moved Josh Mulligan out to right wing-back.

His change had the desired effect as his team improved, but it was not enough to keep their 11-month unbeaten home run in the league intact.

What they said

Media caption,

Rangers 'are ready for Celtic' - Danny Rohl

Hibs head coach David Gray: "It's tough to take. I don't think it's as if we've been beaten by the better side.

"We gifted them a goal and didn't really create many chances after that. Did we do enough? Probably not. That was down to a lack of quality from us.

"We certainly got into good areas and had the best two chances [in the second half], including missing a penalty, which was a massive moment."

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "It's the first clean sheet in one year [away from home]. To come here and beat a team unbeaten in 16 games [at home in the Premiership] is fantastic.

"My team put a lot of things into this game. Great effort and great fighting spirit. All the things you need in football. I'm very proud of my team today.

"You hope and cross your fingers that you can save the ball and Jack [Butland] did a fantastic thing for the group. We needed that moment, at the game we are defending and the players come together."

What's next?

Hibernian have the chance to bounce back away to Livingston in the league on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Rangers face Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday (14:00).

Player of the match

Number: 1 J. Butland
Average rating 8.34
Number: 4 G. Hanley
Average Rating: 5.85
Number: 1 R. Sallinger
Average Rating: 5.33
Number: 20 J. Mulligan
Average Rating: 4.96
Number: 22 D. Barlaser
Average Rating: 4.94
Number: 9 K. Bowie
Average Rating: 4.93
Number: 7 É. Youan
Average Rating: 4.74
Number: 33 R. Bushiri
Average Rating: 4.74
Number: 14 M. Chaiwa
Average Rating: 4.71
Number: 15 J. Iredale
Average Rating: 4.59
Number: 18 T. Klidje
Average Rating: 4.53
Number: 10 M. Boyle
Average Rating: 4.47
Number: 17 J. McGrath
Average Rating: 4.43
Number: 12 C. Cadden
Average Rating: 4.28
Number: 19 N. Cadden
Average Rating: 4.13
Number: 23 J. Hoilett
Average Rating: 4.00
Number: 32 J. Campbell
Average Rating: 3.82

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.