On nights like these, Michael Beale’s unwavering belief in the direction of travel for the Rangers beneath him stands up to all scrutiny.
Another tricky task down the road that was carried out rather devastatingly, the Ibrox manager’s impact on the club for nearly three months is now substantial.
Week after week in the Premiership, he is racking up victories and earning the trust of more skeptics. Ensuring that this short-term rebound equals tangible long-term success is now the task.
The way his side came from behind to sweep Hibs away was hugely impressive. If this is truly a taste of things to come from a recalibrated side down the road, then the optimism Beale exuded earlier this week will be fully justified.
Despite a poor start during which they fell behind thanks to Connor Goldson’s own goal, his team were excellent here, arguably the most complete performance of 13 league games to date.
Antonio Colak scored twice in Rangers’ comfortable away win against Hibernian
They never looked back once James Tavernier converted a VAR-awarded penalty. Antonio Colak claimed a brace on either side of Sakala’s graceful finish. Beale’s only minor complaint will be that his team only scored a fraction of the chances they created.
Hibs simply had no response once the visitors got going. Lee Johnson’s men looked defeated long before a barrage of goals put them out of the game.
Their five-game unbeaten streak allowed them to approach this with no small amount of optimism, but they were second best in the entire park for the vast majority of the night. No complaints can be offered.
This game took the full cycle of the Rangers manager. Hibs had been his first opponent at Ibrox on December 15.
A run of 14 wins and a draw in 16 games since that night would normally be a source of envy, but the ambient music in the club of late has been decidedly depressing, largely as a result of the Viaplay Cup final loss to the Celtic. . This brilliant screen is sure to change that.
Colak had spoken about the need for the visitors to get past the chaos that has so often been associated with this encounter and they did.
A highly charged fixture at the best of times, last night’s game was packed with emotion as the local club played in Leith for the first time since the passing of owner Ron Gordon.
Hibs had asked their supporters to arrive early to pay tribute to the man who took control of the club almost four years ago. They certainly did him proud, raising the roof as Sunshine on Leith echoed across the floor before kick-off.
Sadly, Beale’s request that visiting fans respect the tribute was largely ignored.
Colak struck twice on either side of halftime to put Michael Beale’s men in control
Hibs certainly made the kind of start to the game that his late owner would have approved of.
On the front foot early on, Matthew Hoppe shot weakly a decent opening wide.
Todd Cantwell’s misplaced pass led to him taking Elie Youan’s legs from 25 yards out. The resulting free kick was sent deep by Ewan Henderson. Unmarked at the far post, Hoppe guided the ball back into the six-yard box.
As hard as he tried, Goldson couldn’t help but turn the ball into his own net.
Within 60 seconds, however, the joyous mood among the home fans turned to apprehension and then dejection.
Only he could explain why referee Don Robertson didn’t see CJ Egan-Riley take Ryan Kent’s legs on first sight. The intervention of VAR Gary Hilland caused justice to be served with a delay.
David Marshall anticipated that Tavernier would send the penalty to his right, but the shot was too clean and powerful for him to save.
It was as if a switch had been thrown in the camp away. Slow and ragged up to that point, the Rangers immediately shifted into top gear.
His pass was sharper, his pressing more aggressive. Hibs became passive and heavy on the ball.
The dominance of Beale’s men produced enough chances to put the game out of sight at half-time.
Kent clipped a cross from Sakala just on the other side of the post. Tavernier’s cross was shot down by the Zambian on the Kent road. Marshall was right behind the strike.
Hibs looked vulnerable whenever the Rangers launched a fast break. Tavernier’s ball over the top found Kent walking away from a static baseline. Chris Cadden’s recovery tackle had to be spot on and it was.
Colak was next to record his name in the ‘near miss’ category when he directed Sakala’s cross over the bar.
Cantwell’s cross sat perfectly for Borna Barisic. Marshall picked up the Croatian’s volley but it was sensed that the second goal was coming.
Sakala was their provider, moving away from Cadden to blast the ball through the goal. On tiptoe, Colak produced a sweet clip from five yards to get the ball past Marshall.
The space that Hibs gave Sakala on the flank was truly extraordinary. Ryan Jack simply found a box with a pass and put his teammate within steps of the goal. This time, Will Fish produced the last-gasp tackle to keep the contest alive.
Hibs needed to produce something special after the reset to change the course of the game. It just didn’t materialize.
Fashion Sakala added the fourth for Rangers, who advanced to another three points
Marshall did well to prevent Colak from finding third by diving as the forward’s feet as they contested a low cross from Sakala.
However, the Hibs captain was at fault as Rangers doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart.
A loose kick down the field was taken advantage of by Jack Whip and he sent the ball towards Sakala. Having taken a bunt to steady himself, he planted the ball in the bottom corner.
The game was won at that point, but the Rangers were absolutely relentless. They found the fourth goal their performance deserved in the 58th minute.
Point trades between Barisic, Tavernier and Sakala inside the box had Hibs chasing shadows. Colak put the finishing touch from four meters.
Played as the snow began to fall, the remaining minutes were like a training exercise for the visitors.
This was a night where Beale’s men set an extremely high standard. Keeping it now is the key.