Hibs Memories: Houchen and Hibs put Rangers on the ropes

Hibs had failed to score a single goal against Rangers the previous season, but after a magnificent defensive operation in the first half, the hosts led by a Keith Houchen goal and, in the second 45 minutes, they controlled the game. Mickey Weir added a second just minutes into that second period and, in the end, it could have been an even greater winning margin as Hibs had Rangers on the ropes.

Gareth Evans was the only first-team regular missing from Hibs' side with John Collins, Neil Orr and Brian Hamilton all passed fit. Collins had a tremendous game in midfield and Houchen's height and control made it a bad day for Terry Butcher and Richard Gough in the Ibrox back division.

An outstanding display by Andy Goram kept Rangers at bay in the first half and Hibs built on this as the game went on. And, with 19 minutes on the clock, the Hibees took the lead against the run of play when Paul Kane, Collins and Weir interchanged passes and Houchen cleverly scored with a low right-foot shot from the edge of the box. It was a goal undeserved on play yet splendidly executed and one which gave Hibs confidence.

Rangers continued to press earnestly for an equaliser and the tricky Mark Walters almost engineered it by roaming down the right wing and sending over a cross that Mo Johnston headed just over. Other than that, Johnston was kept quiet all afternoon by the Hibs defence. But, after the break, it was entirely different match and Hibs looked a different team. Almost immediately after the restart Houchen beat Butcher twice only to miss the target narrowly from the right-hand side of the box. With 50 minutes played, however, Hibs did net again when Kane lofted a free-kick into the Rangers box and, when Bonni Ginzburg failed to claim it, the ball broke kindly for Weir, who turned it into the net.

Butcher and Gough were toiling in the middle of the defence and another mix-up between the pair should have provided Hibs with a third goal late in the game but Weir somehow screwed a shot wide of the left-hand post from just a couple of yards.