Rangers 1 - 0 Hibernian: Gers end Hibs' winning streak

HIBS' run of five matches unbeaten came to an end as Kris Boyd's 18th goal of the season consigned them to defeat at Ibrox.

The Easter Road outfit produced a backs-to-the-wall performance as they withstood unrelenting pressure from Rangers but they finally cracked after 60 minutes as Boyd hooked home an overhead kick.

The home side were well worth their win, running the match from first whistle to last with Hibs rarely seen as an attacking force until they dying minutes as they desperately sought an equaliser.

Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen named the same starting line-up for the third match running following those victories against Celtic and Hamilton but there was no place on the bench for Derek Riordan, the victim of a gashedd ankle sustained during the win over Accies.

Boyd looked certain to add to his already impressive goals tally when he was left with only Yves Ma-Kalambay to beat after just four minutes but the Hibs goalkeeper spread his 6ft 5in frame to block his shot.

All the early pressure was coming from Rangers although Alan O'Brien offered his defence some relief with a promising run down the left touchline only to see Kirk Broadfoot nod his cross away from the danger area.

The Glasgow side, though, were soon back on the attack, Pedro Mendes picking up a clearance from O'Brien before firing in a shot which took a wicked dip just in front of Ma-Kalambay but the big Belgian still managed to stretch out an arm to deflect the ball wide.

It looked like only a matter of time before the Rangers side would score but Ma-Kalambay denied them again, throwing himself full-length to his left to touch away a curling effort from Mendes while former Hibs striker Kenny Miller could do no better than stab a Kyle Lafferty cross past the target.

There was a worry for Hibs as Ma-Kalambay signalled he had a problem but it turned out to be no more than a cvhange of boots, the delay as he made the switch causing annoyance to both the Rangers players and fans.

If Hibs had offered next to nothing in attack they were standing firm in defence with all of Paatelainen's outfield players working hard to thwart the home team, their dletermination not to concede epitomised by O'Brien's willingness to track back deep into his own territory to help out his back four.

As half-time approached the frustration among the home fans rose, Rangers having had nine shots at Hibs goal while Paatelainen's players hadn't managed a solitary effort at Allan McGregor while the corner count similarly stood at 7-0.

Colin Nish had the opporunity to alter those statistics to devastating effect as the game moved into the two minutes of time added on by referee Steven Conroy at the end of the first half, David Weir's misjudgment of Ma-Kalambay's clearance giving the Hibs striker a glimpse of goal but he hurried his shot from range rather than trying to close in on McGregor, the upshot being the ball spinning well wide.

The Rangers fans were on their feet screaming for a penalty two minutes after the restart as Weir's header from Steven Davis' corner appeared to strike the arm of Sol Bamba but referee Steve Conroy wasn't interested in the slightest.

Hibs managed to withstand the onslaught until the hour mark when Davis whipped ik Rangers 11th corner of the game, the ball appearing to deflect off the head of Steven Thicot before falling for Boyd who, despite having his back to goal, nonchalantly delivered an overhead kick which looped into the net.

A dipping shot from John Rankin had McGregor worried for a second as it dropped just over his bar before the Rangers goalkeeper held a downward header from Steven Fletcher, Hibs first attempt on target with some 74 minutes on the clock.

But, in truth, Hibs hadn't asked enough questions of the Ibrox defence which had looked suspect in recent weeks, the Ibrox men instead enjoying a relatively untroubled afternoon.

Mendes almost made it two for Rangers with ten minutes remaining as he cut out a poor pass from Bamba and, spotting M-Kalambay off his line, tried an audacious chip from 35 yards which eluded the goalkeeper's fingertips but crashed back off the bar.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Broadfoot, Weir, Papac, Davis, Ferguson, Mendes, Lafferty, Miller (Novo 73), Boyd. Subs not used: Alexander, McCulloch, Beasley, Dailly, Niguez, Fleck.

Hibs: Ma-Kalambay, van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Murray, Rankin, Bamba, Thicot (Yantorno 73), O'Brien, Fletcher, Nish (Pinau 50) Subs not used: McNeil, Keenan, Stevenson, Chisholm, Campbell.

Referee: Steve Conroy.