Hibs were handed a 6-1 hammering by Rangers, yet goalkeeper Ofir Marciano was still their best player. It highlights just how important he is to the Easter Road club.
The Israeli could do nothing to prevent the Gers sweeping by his side. Two quick first half goals from Jermain Defoe started the scoring, before Daryl Horgan pulled one back.
A torrid afternoon for the Hibees. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
A red card for Sean Mackie and four Rangers goals later though, the Hibs capitulation was complete. It’s an afternoon everyone associated with the club will want to forget in a hurry.
Marciano deserves praise for his contributions though.
Marciano saved Hibs from further embarrassment
It says a lot about Hibs’ performance that their goalkeeper was their best player in a game where they conceded six. That’s not a criticism of Marciano though, as without him, it could have been double figures.
Marciano did his best to keep the scoring down. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Granted he could have done more about Rangers’ first goal. Marciano’s positioning was pretty poor, which contributed to him having to parry Sheyi Ojo’s initial shot that Jermain Defoe eventually tucked away.
The fourth one was questionable too, with Alfredo Morelos putting it under him at his near post.
Those errors can be forgiven though when weighed up against the sheer amount of saves he had to make.
Marciano was called upon by Hibs many times. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
In total Rangers had 18 shots on target. According to Modern Fitba writer Seth Dobson, it’s the most shots on target a home team has had in the Premiership since the 2000/01 campaign.
For it only to be six is quite astonishing. Marciano had to make a number of saves to keep the scoring down. Despite his two errors, he saved Paul Heckingbottom from further embarrassment.
Marciano is the one Hibs player who can say he performed well on a miserable day at Ibrox. It highlighted how vital he is going to be for them this season.