Rangers 0-1 Hibernian

By Colin Moffat

Murphy soaks up the praise after nodding Hibs to victory at Ibrox

Hibernian moved to the top of the SPL table as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season with an excellent victory over Rangers at Ibrox.

Left-back David Murphy headed in the only goal from a Filipe Morais corner kick after 59 minutes.

Rangers defender David Weir blazed a shot over the top of an empty net from virtually underneath the crossbar.

Murphy also headed clear from his own goal-line to keep out an effort from home defender Carlos Cuellar.

Interview: Rangers manager Walter Smith

Interview: Hibernian manager John Collins

Rangers came into the game on a high, having beaten Lyon convincingly in the Champions League.

But the visitors were more than a match for Walter Smith's men, using the ball with great efficiency and digging deep to defend their lead.

A congested midfield made it difficult for the strikers to get involved and neither goalkeeper had much to do in the first half.

Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson lashed a fierce shot on target after 16 minutes, following a neat chest pass from Brahim Hemdani but the ball flew straight at Yves Ma-Kalambay.

It was a cagey first 45 minutes, with both sides content to sit back when not in possession, allowing for long passing spells but little in the way of attacking threat.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction Hibernian's win at Ibrox

Clayton Donaldson, a hat-trick hero for Hibs last weekend, did not look comfortable in a wide right role, while fellow forward Steven Fletcher was not seeing much of the ball on the opposite flank.

Kris Boyd was ploughing a lone furrow up front for the home side but he was well marshalled by visiting defenders Chris Hogg and Rob Jones.

The final minute of the first half saw Ma-Kalambay scrambling to claw away a looping cross from former Hibs favourite Steven Whittaker.

And when the loose ball fell to Charlie Adam the midfielder's chip drifted wide of the target.

Following the re-start, Ma-Kalambay had to get down smartly to block a drilled free-kick from Boyd and the Hibs keeper did well to gather the ball at the second attempt.

Hibs goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay enjoyed a fine game

Fletcher then rose to meet a deep delivery from Murphy but the close range header flew high over Allan McGregor's crossbar.

Adam met a dangerous cross from Alan Hutton at the back post as the game gradually opened up but his deflected shot was expertly tipped away by Ma-Kalambay.

Hibs won their first corner of the game after an hour and stunned the home support by scoring from it.

Half-time substitute Morais swung the ball into the six yard box and Murphy got up in front of McGregor to glance it into the net.

Rangers spurned a glorious chance when a Cuellar header flashed across the face of goal and the stretching Weir somehow directed his shot over the crossbar from no more than a yard out.

Murphy was the Hibs hero again when he popped up on his own goal-line to head clear a header from Cuellar.

John Collins' team were a threat on the break and the lively Morais twice shot narrowly wide after lightening counter-attacks.

And Ma-Kalambay was able to keep out a downward nod from Lee McCulloch as Hibs held on to complete an early season Old Firm double.

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Rangers: McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Whittaker (Naismith 68), Hemdani, Ferguson, Thomson (McCulloch 68), Adam, Boyd (Cousin 77). Subs Not Used: Carroll, Faye, Lennon, Emslie.

Hibernian: Kalambay, McCann, Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Antoine-Curier (Zemmama 74), Kerr, Beuzelin, Chisholm, Donaldson (Morais 46), Fletcher (O'Brien 82). Subs Not Used: McNeil, Gathuessi, McCormack, Shiels.

Booked: Donaldson, Beuzelin, Zemmama, Chisholm.

Goal: Murphy 61.

Att: 50,440

Ref: K Clark