Hibernian 0 - 3 Rangers: Hibs suffer as Miller strikes three

A sensational hat-trick from from former Hibs striker Kenny Miller earned SPL champions Rangers all three points in an explosive encounter which saw both sies reduced to ten men two minutes before half-time.

• Miller is mobbed by David Weir and Vladimir Weiss

Miller struck twice in six second-half minutes and added a third three minutes into injury time as the Ibrox side strolled to victory although the game turned in theier favour when Hibs Dutch star Edwin de Graaf failed to convert a gilt-edged chance on the hour mark with the match scoreless.

Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty saw red as Hibs midfielder Kevin McBride crashed the ball off him after he'd scythed down Easter Road star Liam Miller, flying at his opponent with his hands raised.

McBride appeared to have one little wrong, having kicked the ball as referee Iain Brines whistled for the original offence and, like most within Easter Road, looked mystified as he, too was given his marching orders.

The Ibrox side made the most of Hibs Dutch signing Edwin de Graaf failing to capitalise on a glorious opportunity to open the scoring, Kenny Miller hammering the ball home after Hibs debutant Mark Brown could ony push James Beattie's shot aside and then accepting the open goal presented by a dazzling run from substitute Vladimir Weiss.

Brown was handed a surprise debut for Hibs, the goalkeeper taking the place of the injured Graham Stack, while Rangers new signing Weiss, on-loan from Manchester City, took his place on the visiting bench.

This match, of course marked the opening of Easter Road's new East Stand, and it almost witnessed it's first goal within nine minutes, Derek Riordan miscuing as he reached Michael Hart's cross but succeeding in directing it back to his team-mate who powered a header across goal.

Anthony Stokes looked favourite to meet it at the back post but Allan McGregor threw himself full-length to his right touch the ball off the head of the Hibs striker.

McGregor, however, was less than superb a few minutes later as he reacted poorly after grabbing Paul Hanlon's low cross off the toes of Rioran, squaring up to the Hibs player before throwing himself to the ground cluthing his face. It was clear there had been no contact and McGregor sheepishly got back to his feet only for referee Iain Brines to book both players.

There had been little goalmouth action, though, other than a lofted shot from Riordan which sailed over before Brown could only manage to punch the ball down to the head of Steve Davis who nodded it goalwards only to see Sol Bamba clear off his own line.

The game had been simmering away and it exploded two minutes from the interval when Lafferty, already guilty of a number of heavy challenges went in on Liam Miller. As the whistle sounded McBride crashed the ball off the body of the prostrate Rangers player who jumped to his feet to angrily confront his opponent.

His aggression earned him a red card but McBride, too, was also sent off despite appearing to very much be the victim and unlucky to be heading for an early bath.

To add to their woes, Hibs lost Riordan to injury ten minutes into the second half but only after former Easter Road striker Kenny Miller had powered a Steven Naismith cross over the bar when he should have done much better.

Hibs should have taken full advantate of that miss on the hour mark when Hart left Danny Galbraith, Riordan's replacement, free to cut the ball back for the unmarked Edwin de Graaf. The Dutchman was confronted with an empty goal but as the home fans rose to acclaim his first SPL goal he, somehow, took that split-second to long, time enough for Madjid Bougherra to knock the ball to safety.

Presented with such an escape, Rangers weren't so charitable as they snatched the lead four minutes later, Brown unable to do any more than push Beattie's shot to the side, the Ibrox striker the first to react as he reached the loose ball to turn it back into the path of Kenny Miller to hammer high into the roof of the net.

Hibs were forced into a reshuffle when Hart collapsed, the immediate signal from skipper Chris Hogg being that his team-mate was unable to continue, David Wotherspoon moving to right-back as Galbraith dropped back on the other side of the pitch.

But the game was put beyond the home side in the 70th minute as substitute Weiss carved open Hibs defence with a one-two with Sasa Papac before delivering the easiest of opportunities for Kenny Miller.

Hibs: Brown, Hart (Rankin 68), Hogg, Bamba, Hanlon (Nish 68), De Graaf, Miller, McBride, Wotherspoon, Stokes, Riordan (Galbraith 55). Subs not used: Smith, Stephens, Thicot, Stevenson.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Edu, Davis, Naismith, Lafferty, Beattie (Weiss 65), Miller. Subs not used: Alexander, Broadfoot, McMillan, Little, Wylde, Hutton.

Referee: Iain Brines.