Hibs played some nice stuff today, and perhaps deserved more from a game that both sides ended up with ten men.

Hibs had been unbeaten at Easter Road from the opening day of the season, and that record went today as we once again succumbed to our stinking November. Not even Tony Mowbray can save us from that. Nor could he work his magic on a threadbare squad missing several players through injury, whilst contending with a couple of players returning from injury and not quite being on top form.

Just like Celtic, Rangers have gone for the physically solid defence: Although on the evidence of my own eyes, Alain Boomsong has a fair bit of skill to go with the physical presence which he used well today. Marvin Andrews looks to be a class below, but that isnae surprising because every other defender in the SPL looks a class below.

Willie Young. I can’t say I’m sad he’s retiring soon, but I can say I think he did not cost us todays game. I mean, sure, he can be a complete idiot, but you cannae say he is biased one way or another. The first penalty may have been harsh, and the red card even harsher but Ian Murray escaped without a red card for the second penalty. How sick would the knuckle draggers have been if Ian had scored rather than hit the woodwork just after that? Evidence perhaps, that today, there was not a god.

Am I gutted about today? Not really, we played well in large parts, and we also played football. Not hoof the ball up the pitch ball or route one ball, or percentages. But football. We are also missing several players through injury. David Murphy might not have strengthened the defence today [ I did not think Stephen Glass did anything wrong at left back] but it might have meant Glass making a stronger midfield. Who knows eh?

Our strikers today were a bit enigmatic; Garry O looked a bit less than sharp due to his recent inactivity whilst Riordan looked his mercurial best. Neither looked like scoring, which is EXACTLY when they normally score. Unfortunately it was not to be today.

Prior to the sending off our defence looked solid too. Murdock was immense in the air, and was perhaps unlucky to be hooked. In midfield Rocky & Beuzelin controlled the middle of the midfield before Rocky was sacrified for tactical reasons once we went down to ten men. It was interesting to note that in the second half Rangers went with three hammer throwers in the midfield. Alex Rae, Bob Malcom and Fernando Ricksen arenae going to win any skill awards. Nor are they likely to trouble Celtic next week,

Did Rangers deserve to win? Possibly, they scored more goals than us.

Did Rangers impress me? Klos was commanding, Boomsong is the best centre back I have seen this season by a long way, and Marvin Andrews came on to a game. Apart from that I was pretty disappointed. It was the most physical and skill-less Rangers team to come to ER for a long time. I don’t see them going far.