Hosts Rangers can be halted again by Hibs in top two rumble

Holly Thackeray | December 27, 2015

Rangers v Hibernian

Hibs can channel recent history to overturn hosts

It’s Glasgow versus Edinburgh and first against second in the Scottish Championship, as guests Hibernian attempt to topple leaders Rangers at Ibrox Stadium.

Hibs have a strong case for coming away with all three points, which they are a cracking 7/2 to do so with Coral, and head in to 2016 at the summit of second-tier Scottish football.

Only shy of top spot due to goal difference, but level on points with the Gers, Hibernian have beaten their hosts in five of their last nine fixtures across all competitions and are also on a run of 17 games unbeaten. Though that last narrow defeat came in August, to this very opposition.

By contrast, however, Hibs gave proven to be more of a bogey team for Rangers (still odds-on 4/5 favourites) than the reverse, as the Gers have famously dropped 10 points since their last meeting with the Edinburgh outfit, which was their first league loss of the season.

Miller backs Gers boost

When asked about their patchy form since that damaging defeat at Easter Road, with Rangers now also without a win in two, former Hibs hitman and Edinburgh-born attacker Kenny Miller said: “Why have we dropped 10 points since that first defeat? Well when you have a negative result it can have that sort of result on a team. As much as you don’t want to believe it the facts are there.

“If we can stop this fantastic run they are on and put a little bit of daylight between us then hopefully it can serve as a real boost for us and we can go on another run.

“Might a defeat have the same kind of effect that it has had on us? It could do. There’s no reason why it can’t,” added the current Rangers goal-getter, who is 5/4 to notch in the anytime market.

“Might a defeat have the same kind of effect that it has had on us? It could do. There’s no reason why it can’t.”

The Ibrox outfit will also be buoyed by the return of Arsenal-owned midfielder Gedion Zelalem, who is a 7/1 shot to strike anytime. While, marksman Martyn Waghorn is 4/1 to fire in first.

As for Hibs’ attacking options, Jason Cummings has already struck twice against the Gers this term, so is tempting at 7/4 to strike anytime again, with dangerman Dominique Malonga 7/1 to have the final say.

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Read more festive fixture previews in our fantastic football section.

Coral’s top tip: Back Hibs at a superb 7/2 to snatch victory.