After Celtic’s victory at Hearts on Wednesday’s, it’s Rangers turn to visit the capital and the pressure is on the Light Blues as noting less than a win will mean their great rivals have breathing space at the top of the Premiership going into Christmas. But a positive result will have to be achieved without their top scorer.
Hibernian Form and Team News
After Daniel Stebdel’s appointment at Hearts, the path from Barnsley to Edinburgh is becoming well trod but another former Tykes boss, Paul Heckingbottom, lost his job at Hibernian last month. Replaced by Jack Ross, sacked only weeks earlier by Sunderland, the former St Mirren manager seems to have Hibs playing for each other again.
Though they’ve lost their last two away games, Hibernian have not lost a Premiership match at Easter Road since the Edinburgh derby in September.
Florian Kamberi has returned to form and Stevie Mallan has regained full fitness. Having looked lost since signing from Forest Green in the summer, Christian Doidge has suddenly remembered he’s a goalscorer while Scott Allan remains possibly the best midfielder in Scotland outside of Glasgow.
Hiberian beat Aberdeen 3-0 in their last home game and that should be a warning to Rangers. Long-term injury victims Darren McGregor and David Gray are both back in full training with Hibs and Martin Boyle and Scotland Under-21 defender Ryan Porteous are also back in the fold so the future suddenly looks a lot brighter for the Easter Road faithful, who will give the Gers a hostile welcome.
Scottish Premiership Betting at Ladbrokes
Rangers Form and Team News
Every Premiership game is vital for the Gers as long as they trail Celtic in the table.
Steven Gerrard insists his team will cope without the suspended Alfredo Morelos at Easter Road but he must be frustrated that the Colombian’s temperament let him down against at Motherwell at the weekend.
Their top scorer’s obvious replacement in the capital is Jermaine Defoe but is almost a month and seven matches since the former England international started a game so he could be a little ring-rusty. Though he has scored 13 times this season, he’s not figured on the scoresheet since the end of October.
Rangers have only won one of their last four matches in all competitions so the pressure is on.
They will again be without central defender Filip Helander at Easter Road and the Swede will also miss the Old Firm derby in the week after Christmas. Nikola Katic has been deputising in Helander’s absence, alongside Connor Goldson, and the Croatian scored Rangers’ opener in their win at Motherwell but the manager needs goals to come from more conventional sources outside his two main strikers if his team is to maintain a title challenge. It’s likely either Ryan Jack or Glenn Kamara will be tasked with stifling the creative abilities of Scott Allan.
Hibernian vs Rangers Live Stats & Betting Odds
Hibernian vs Rangers Head-to-Heads
Rangers have not won in Leith since Steven Gerrard took charge with both matches last season ending all-square. The Light Blues have won just three times at Easter Road in their last 10 visits and only once in their last six but they did beat Hibs 6-1 in August when the Edinburgh club were in meltdown.
Hibernian vs Rangers Current Best Odds
Hibernian 13/2, Draw 4/1, Rangers 2/5 (Odds correct at 2.00pm December 19)
Daryl Horgan of Hibernian and Liam Grimshaw of Motherwell – Alan Rennie
Hibernian vs Rangers Predictions
There is little confidence that a Rangers side, without Morelos, can get the job done at Easter Road.
Hibs are a force to be reckoned with on home soil and there is always a good atmosphere for night matches in Edinburgh. Jack Ross’ team are playing with plenty of confidence nowadays and there are goals in them. Without Helander, the Gers are not entirely convincing in defence as their full backs likely to push forward. Hibernian-Draw in the Double Chance market is very tempting at 19/10 with Coral and Christian Doidge is 3/1 to be an Anytime Goalscorer with Paddy Power.
