Hibee history: Rangers routed again ...

IT'S not uncommon to hear the chant "We are the People" reverberating around Ibrox, jubilant fans in full voice rejoicing in yet another victory.

But for once it wasn't the Rangers support proclaiming their supremacy but Tony Mowbray's green and white army, taunting the opposition having seen the Hibs boss and his players make the Govan ground a second home.

Back-to-back victories, both by the same 3-0 margin, allied to a further win at Easter Road saw Alex McLeish's old club become his nemesis, not only helping shatter Rangers' hopes of holding onto their SPL title but, on this occasion, ending their Scottish Cup aspirations.

Just six months after Ivan Sproule's stunning hat-trick, McLeish was bemoaning the manner of Hibs' initial victory over his side but having now seen Mowbray's team rack up a third successive win, even he had to admit this run of results had been no fluke. On each occasion McLeish had simply been out-thought by his counterpart, Mowbray coming up with a game plan which McLeish found impossible to explain.

Of course, Mowbray tinkered with both formation and personnel, on this occasion naming a side which most presumed would see Hibs line up in a 4-5-1 system only for a 4-4-2 to become evident with Scott Brown, having passed a fitness test, switch from the right flank to the left with Steven Fletcher while Sproule, rather than Derek Riordan, partnered Garry O'Connor in attack.

Rangers started off the more dominant of the two after a slow start and Kris Boyd alongside Peter Lovenkrands both passed up decent chances to score and goalkeeper Simon Brown kept Hibs level at half-time with an outstanding save from a Bob Malcolm drive.

However the contest changed dramatically in the second-half when Hibs took the lead when Garry O'Connor connected with an Ivan Sproule cross after the home side failed to cope with the winger's skill.

The two linked up again, only this time it was O'Connor who provided Sproule with a through ball and he expertly drilled in a low shot past Ronald Waterreus in the Gers goal to double the visitors lead.

Riordan, on as a substitute had ample opportunity to parade his vision and awareness, sweeping a superb pass into the path of fellow substitute and striker Chris Killen who ensured there was no way back for Rangers as he netted the third goal in what was a remarkable victory for the Hibees in Govan.