MY ACCOUNT
– Rangers have only lost one of their last 46 home league matches
– Hibernian have not won at Ibrox in the league since 2018
– Recommended bet: Rangers to win and over 3.5 goals
It is a new era at Rangers with Michael Beale now in charge at Ibrox and he will be hoping to get off to a winning start when his side play host to Hibernian on Thursday at 8pm.
The Gers made the decision to sack Giovanni van Bronckhorst just one week into the World Cup break and bring in Beale, who was assistant to Steven Gerrard at the Scottish giants from 2018-2021.
Knowing the surroundings will have made settling into life at Ibrox as the new number one much easier for the former QPR boss, who has had a couple of weeks to work with the squad before the domestic action returns this midweek.
First up for the 42-year-old Englishman is a home clash against struggling Hibernian, who have been slipping down the table over the last couple of months.
Team news
Rangers could be boosted by the returns of key defenders Connor Goldson and Ben Davies, with both expected to train in the build-up to the game.
Ridvan Yilmaz remains a doubt after missing the friendly win with Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, while Croatia left-back Borna Barisic is still at the World Cup and his place in the starting XI is likely to be taken by Adam Devine.
Hibernian are hoping to have both Kevin Nisbet and Aiden McGeady available for selection, with the duo both returning from spells out with injury during the recent break.
The stats
Rangers are unbeaten in their last 10 league games at Ibrox – winning nine and drawing one – while they have only lost one Scottish Premiership clash on home soil from their previous 46 assignments.
The Gers are the second-highest scorers in the league this season, netting 34 times to sit only behind Celtic (50), while their tally of 14 goals conceded is only bettered by the Bhoys (13).
Lee Johnson’s Hibernian lost three matches on the bounce before the season broke for the World Cup, while they have lost eight of their previous 10 away games in the Scottish top flight – conceding 19 times during those defeats.
Hibs have only won one of the last 17 meetings against Rangers across all competitions and they have not beaten the Gers at Ibrox in the league since February 2018.
Predictions
With Hibernian losing five of their last six games heading into this contest, it is hard to see them coming away from Ibrox with anything despite having had a chance to recharge during the World Cup break.
Rangers should have fresh focus with the appointment of Beale and the 3-0 friendly victory over Leverkusen could be a sign of things to come for the Gers, with free-flowing, attacking football on the agenda.
Hibs are leaking goals and are failing to score at the other end, having been beaten to nil in their last two assignments, and a reinvigorated Rangers look like they can pick up the win in a match that has over 3.5 goals, which is priced at 9/5 with LiveScore Bet.
