Rangers moved up to third in the Scottish Premiership after a nervy 1-0 victory over Hibernian at Ibrox, a game in which Danny Röhl’s side rarely impressed but showed enough to take the points. Emmanuel Fernandez’s 34th-minute header — his third goal in 10 appearances — proved decisive, calming growing unrest among the home support who had seen little fluency for much of the evening.
The result follows a difficult week in Europe, where Rangers were almost eliminated from the Europa League after a 2-1 defeat to Ferencvaros, leaving them with a solitary point from six group games. Domestically, however, Röhl has steadied the ship since replacing Russell Martin: six wins and two draws from his first eight matches in charge.
The win moves Rangers to within nine points of leaders Hearts, and they head to Tynecastle on Sunday with a game in hand.
Both teams had early opportunities. Hibs’ Elie Youan dragged an early effort over the bar, then Youssef Chermiti — recalled to the side alongside Mikey Moore, Findlay Stevens, Mohamed Diomande and Dujon Sterling — forced a smart save from Raphael Sallinger with an angled drive. From the resulting corner Nasser Djiga nodded wide.
Hibernian looked physically imposing and grew into the match, while Rangers struggled to find rhythm. Kieron Bowie tested the view from distance and, in the 29th minute, returning starter Sterling made a crucial block to clear Warren O’Hora’s header off the line from a corner.
Shortly after that defensive intervention, Sterling’s cross picked out Fernandez, who steered a glancing header past the Hibs defence and into the net. There was a late first-half VAR check when Bowie’s shot struck Sterling’s hand, but an offside in the build-up meant no penalty was awarded.
The second half offered few clear-cut chances. Moore began to exert more influence but Rangers still found it hard to create sustained openings. Youan’s 30-yard strike was comfortably gathered by Jack Butland, and both keepers were otherwise relatively untroubled as Hibs pushed forward without finding a killer pass.
A potential breakthrough for Hibernian arrived in the 78th minute when substitute Djeidi Gassama raced through but was flagged offside after a VAR review. Chermiti then fired straight at Sallinger late on, and Sallinger later denied Gassama before the final whistle to leave the score unchanged.
Röhl praised the commitment of his players after the match, stressing determination over aesthetics. “From the last eight games, six wins, it’s not because we play tiki-taka, it’s about effort, effort, effort,” he said, adding that with several absentees the team’s 95-minute application made the victory deserved. He also urged his side to capitalise on opponents’ open spaces to “kill” games and ease pressure on the touchline.
Hibs boss David Gray expressed frustration despite encouraging signs, applauding his players’ bravery and aggression but lamenting a lack of quality in the final third. “For all the control I felt we had… their keeper didn’t really have a save to make,” Gray said, pointing to decision-making and finishing as the difference on the night.