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Rangers fail to end week on a high after draw with Hibs

04/05/2008

Rangers are seven points adrift of Celtic in the title race after being held 0-0 by Hibernian at Easter Road.

Walter Smith's side failed to break the deadlock but still have three games in hand over the Hoops.

Dean Shiels was desperately unlucky to be given offside on two minutes after being sent clear, with replays showing he was level with the last Rangers' defender.

Nacho Novo carved out the visitors' first chance on ten minutes with an ambitious volley from 25 yards which sailed over the bar. The Spanish striker was denied by a superb last-ditch block when he was bearing down on goal six minutes later.

Rangers continued to threaten with Steve Davis' corner headed wide by defender Carlos Cuellar on the half hour mark. But the Spanish centre-back's afternoon was ruined by a yellow card, which means he will be suspended for the clash with St Mirren on May 19th.

His compatriot Novo again came close five minutes before the break when his low effort was blocked by Rob Jones after Peter Broadbent's cut-back.

Despite their exploits in reaching the Uefa Cup final on Thursday, Rangers exploded out of the blocks in the second half.

Davis and Daniel Cousin both went close with long-range efforts, while at the other end Neil Alexander pulled off a fine save to tip over Filipe Morais' venomous strike.

Kris Boyd came on for the final 13 minutes as Rangers sought a late winner. They came agonisingly close two minutes from time when Cuellar headed over.

But Hibs hung on to move into joint-fourth place in the Scottish Premier League table.