Hibs managed a point against Rangers in an entertaining and end-to-end Easter Road clash.
The Hibees started off looking very vulnerable and conceded a poor goal after just four minutes. Rocky Bushiri failed to deal with a long ball over the top and allowed Hamza Igamane to exchange passes with Ianis Hagi before finishing with aplomb.
Looking like they could clock up any number of goals, the visitors made it two through the same player. The Moroccan got on the end of Nedim Bajrami’s cross to steer a header away from Jordan Smith.
To their credit, Hibs didn’t throw in the towel and did manage to get themselves back in the game. It came from a set-piece, Lewis Miller heading back across goal and Bushiri was able to tee up Martin Boyle for a left-foot finish.
Boyle joined Igamane on two goals in the second half, this time from the spot. Hagi was clumsy with his challenge on Josh Campbell and the Australia international tucked it way.
The home side were energised and really pushing now and Dwight Gayle could have headed them in front from an excellent Chris Cadden delivery. Lewis Miller then hit the post with another headed attempt.
As is so often the case in football, then came the sucker punch. Igamane the scorer again for his hat-trick, Vaclav Cerny this time the creator after getting to the byline.
But the game swing in the other direction again as the Easter Road men drew level, Bushiri getting on the end of Nicky Cadden’s ball in to head home.
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Defensive errors
Rangers wasted no time in taking the lead but Hibs had a big part to play in it. Rocky Bushiri got himself in a fankle instead of dealing with a long ball and that allowed Igamane to play it wide before getting into the box to get on the end of the ball back in.
It had been defensive errors costing Hibs earlier in the season but they’ve looked far more solid since adopting a 3-5-2, with Bushiri big part of it.
The problems are creeping back in though and it was the same player at fault to concede a penalty against St Johnstone on Thursday.
Bushiri and Miller were both loose in possession at times early on as they played themselves into trouble.
Back on the Boyle
Martin Boyle was nowhere near his usual self for most of the early part of this season. But he is back to his best now.
It wasn’t quite THAT semi-final display against Rangers but he certainly would’ve given them flashbacks to it as he was a thorn in the side.
There was a match-winning display against Aberdeen a few weeks ago, a goal and two assists, and he wa son form again today.
The 3-5-2 shape seems to be getting the most out of Boyle as he operates as a central striker and stretches defences, always a threat in behind.
Hibs in the ascendancy and character shown
After the game went to 2-2, Hibs were the team that looked like winning it.
They had quickfire chances through Gayle and Miller but there was more on top of that as they were all over their visitors like a rash.
Just like that though, they found themselves behind.
David Gray will take plenty of positives from the performance but will perhaps bemoan the defending once again, going to sleep at the other end after piling the pressure on at the other.
But they then showed immense character to draw level again. It was something the team had questioned earlier in the season but have now displayed it on numerous occasions.