Football: Rangers still on course

Hibernian. . .1

Rangers. . . .0

DEFEAT at the hands of a spritely Hibernian will do nothing to deflect Rangers from a sixth successive championship. Motherwell's inability to beat Dundee United last night leaves Rangers clear by four points and a handsome goal difference with two games to play. Championships are won over the course of a season and Rangers have proved more consistent than any other team in Scotland.

Rangers would have welcomed an early goal and, after 10 minutes, Mark Hateley almost obliged when he dispossessed Graham Mitchell but Jim Leighton, the Hibernian keeper, blocked the ball with his chest.

After 34 minutes, however, Hibernian took the lead. Darren Jackson dispossessed Alexei Mikhailichenko on the right and sent in a low cross which caught in the legs of Richard Gough allowing Keith Wright to shoot the loose ball into the corner of the net from six yards.

Hibernian survived a series of Rangers attacks in the second half before Leighton sealed vitory with a superb save from an Ian Ferguson free-kick with 10 minutes to go.

Hibernian (4-4-2): Leighton; W Miller, McIntyre, Mitchell, Beaumont; D Jackson, Hamilton, O'Neill, McAllister (Findlay, 81); Wright, Evans. Substitutes not used: Farrell, Reid (gk).

Rangers (4-4-2): Scott; McPherson (McCoist, h-t), Gough, Pressley, D Robertson; Steven (Murray, 55), I Ferguson, McCall, Mikhailichenko; Durrant, Hateley. Substitute not used: Inglis (gk).

Referee: L Thow (Ayr).