da bet vitoria： We’ve barely taken a breath from the weekend’s frantic Scottish Premiership actions but the matches come thick and fast on Wednesday night with four fixtures to look forward to. The star attraction is undoubtedly Rangers’ trip to Easter Road to face Hibernian, with both teams vying to keep pace with Celtic at the top of the table.
da 888casino： Much has been made of the rivalry between Aberdeen and Rangers in recent seasons but in many ways it pales in comparison to the heated drama that seems to accompany the Light Blues’ encounters with the Hibees.
What’s more, the re-introduction of the Leith side into the top-flight has added a new dimension to the top end of the table, with Hibs apparently every bit as capable as producing the form needed to be in the mix for that second spot behind the Hoops.
Rangers did well to navigate a difficult double header against Aberdeen and deserve credit, but Wednesday night promises to be even more difficult.
Here are THREE reasons why…
They’ve been the closest contenders to Celtic this season
Celtic have undoubtedly not been as imperious in domestic football as last term, they’ve already dropped more points than the entirety of last season in the Scottish Premiership. However, they are still the benchmark and Hibs have challenged them more than any other this season.
Of the twelve goals the Hoops have conceded in domestic football this term, Neil Lennon’s side have scored half of them, running them close in each of the three encounters between the two sides.
They were ten minutes away from victory at Celtic Park before they had to settle for a point and at Easter Road on Sunday they were a Mikael Lustig goal line clearance away from all three points. Even in the League Cup semi-final they lost, they gave the Hoops a scare.
They’ve given Celtic more of a challenge than Rangers have managed in recent times and they’re clearly a side that turns up for the big games. That makes them a dangerous proposition on Wednesday and one which the Light Blues might find to be their toughest test of the season outside of the Hoops.
They want second place every bit as much and know Rangers are beatable
The race for second has become a real thing in Scottish football in recent years. With Celtic seemingly unstoppable in the context of winning the Scottish Premiership, the best of the rest have been left to fight it out for that second spot.
Rangers see claiming that second spot, with points to spare, as a key step on their road to the top of Scottish football, but last year Aberdeen beat them to it and this year are running the Light Blues as close as ever.
Hibs have certainly weighed in with ambitions of their own though and head into the match at Easter Road just three points behind both clubs, having actually lost less games than both.
In a head to head versus Rangers, they also have the upper hand, never afraid when the two sides meet. In fact, Hibs have won their last three encounters, all of them a 3-2 scoreline. Whether at Ibrox, Easter Road or at Hampden, the Edinburgh club know how to get the job done against the Light Blues in a toe-to-toe battle.
The Lennon factor
It’s hard to imagine a time when Neil Lennon won’t be a thorn in Rangers’ side. Whether as a player with Celtic, a manager there or now with Hibs, he’s often managed to get big results against the Ibrox side. The rivalry has undoubtedly led to some unsavoury stuff but Lennon himself would be the first to admit he thrives on the challenge of going up against Rangers on the pitch.
Lots was made of his trip to Ibrox as leader of Hibs in August, but he outfoxed Pedro Caixinha and his side outfought their opponents, producing the kind of battling display that has defined Lennon’s career.
Lennon is a man of ambition and whether up against his beloved Celtic or Rangers, he knows these are the opportunities for his side to truly impress and make a name for themselves.
This match at Easter Road could well see Hibs be the most motivated they’ll be all season and that means they’re even more dangerous than usual.