Hibernian 0 - 2 Rangers: Ibrox side coast to victory but Nikica Jelavic lucky not to see red

RANGERS may have left Edinburgh pointless at the weekend, but last night they were never in danger of making the same journey empty-handed. Although less impressive overall and creating fewer chances than they had against Hearts, Walter Smith's team were still too strong for a Hibernian side who continue to make life difficult for themselves.

Smith's two changes to the team which had begun their last match, Vladimir Weiss and Nikica Jelavic, made the difference in the first half, Weiss setting up the opening goal and Jelavic scoring the second. There was less between the teams after the break, but that was primarily because, from Rangers' point of view, there did not have to be. With the points secure, they were able to close the game down.

For Hibs, the misery goes on. This was their ninth league game without a win, with Colin Calderwood's record in the SPL since succeeding John Hughes still standing at just two victories and two draws.

There was some consolation for the embattled manager in the fact that his players did not let their heads go down even when the cause was lost. At least they are now playing with an evident awareness that they will need to fight hard to get out of their predicament, but there is as yet no sign that they can turn that awareness into positive results. Still only three points clear of bottom club Hamilton, they visit Tannadice on Sunday still in search of their first goal of 2011.

After chopping and changing in previous games, Calderwood made just the two alterations to his starting line-up from the team which had begun the 2-0 defeat at Motherwell. New loan signing Richie Towell replaced Steven Thicot at right-back, and Colin Nish, who had replaced Darryl Duffy for the second-half at Fir Park, started as the sole striker.

Despite having just the one man up front, Hibs began the match in assertive mood, with Merouane Zemmama being instrumental in taking the game to Rangers. Nish had what looked like a good chance at least to test Allan McGregor when he was played through on the right of the box, but he hesitated as the defence closed him down and opted to backheel a pass in a fruitless search of a team-mate rather than going for goal.

The big striker was more direct a few minutes later, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net - but only several seconds after the whistle had blown for an offside decision.

For a team who had yet to score this year, however, it was at least a welcome reminder that they had it in them to create scoring opportunities.

Given how low on confidence Hibs have become during their recent barren run, it was reasonable to expect that Rangers would start the game at a high tempo in a bid to provoke some panic in their opponents. Instead, they began the game in almost studious fashion, with only Weiss and Steven Naismith attempting to inject some serious pace into proceedings.

By the midpoint of the half, however, the champions had started to get on top, and they took the lead with a goal which was worryingly simple from the home team's point of view. Weiss's floated free-kick from the left wing did not look too dangerous, but as three or four heads rose in the box it glanced off one to reach Bougherra at the back post. From a tight angle, the big defender fired a well-placed shot into the corner of Graeme Smith's net.

Rangers immediately began to play with more confidence, and within ten minutes had scored again - but only thanks to a horrendous blunder from Towell. The Irish Under-21 international played what should have been a simple ball back to his keeper, but failed to get enough weight on it, allowing Jelavic to intercept. As Smith ran out, the Bosnian skipped round him, and steered the ball into the net from close to the byeline.

Calderwood insisted this week that there was "no disease" in his dressing-room, meaning he did not think every member of his squad was necessarily inflicted by the same self-doubt whenever they played a competitive game. Nonetheless, it was easy to presume that some sort of affliction had struck Towell on his first appearance for the club, as his error merely added to an already lengthy list of self-inflicted injuries committed by Hibs defenders over the past couple of months.

Hibs began the second half with Edwin de Graaf on in place of Kevin McBride, and they did their best to get back into the contest. Ian Murray had the first shot on target of the 45, a fierce drive from the edge of the box, and although McGregor gathered comfortably it was a sign that all was not lost for Calderwood's team. The keeper was less assured when dealing with a direct free-kick from Zemmama, getting down to fumble the attempt for a corner, but the pressure was soon relieved.

With Rangers in cruise control, Hibs introduced Derek Riordan for Zemmama and David Wotherspoon for Murray, but both substitutes took a while to get involved. For a long stretch of the second half little happened, and when it did come to life it was only thanks to a bit of shoving between Jelavic and Paul Hanlon which saw both players booked. Jelavic, however, was perhaps fortunate that his punishment was not more severe after pushing his head towards the Hibernian player.

Kyle Lafferty came on for Jelavic shortly after Maurice Edu had replaced Weiss, and the withdrawal of the two men who had given Rangers a first-half cutting edge contributed further to the decline of the match into mediocrity.

The swirling rain which grew heavier as the game entered its final quarter of an hour was a dampener on the game metaphorically as well as physically. Lafferty brought matters back to life in the last five minutes, however, with a neat back-heel into the path of Steven Davis, whose shot was saved by Smith.

Hibernian: Smith, Towell, Dickoh, Hanlon, Booth, Murray (Wotherspoon 64), Rankin, McBride (De Graaf 46), Galbraith, Zemmama (Riordan 63), Nish. Subs not used: Stack, Stevenson, Duffy, Thicot.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Davis, Ness, McCulloch, Naismith, Jelavic (Lafferty 72), Weiss (Edu 67). Subs not used: Alexander, Fleck, Foster, Kerkar, Wylde.