Rangers 2-2 Hibs: Groundhog day

I started my very first match write up on this blog talking about a disappointing draw in Edinburgh. So it's fitting that I am ending the season with the same kind of result.

At the start of that blog I talked about how despite it being a new season, it was a story we'd seen many times before. A team lacking the steel and the variety to beat a side away from home that was up for the game.

It's probably a bit reductive to say yesterday's result was the exact same thing, but I think it would be foolish to deny the similarities.

The biggest changes before the game were due to the absence through injury of Jefte and Igamane. Igamane was a massive miss due to the sheer variety he has in attacking areas. But I actually thought we really missed Jefte during the game too, when you set up in a narrow formation like this diamond/4312 we've deployed recently, you have to trust your fullbacks to provide the width.

Jefte's replacement Kasanwirjo, constantly had to play inside due to the fact he's a right footer playing off the left.

Unlike the 0-0 draw at Tynecastle that started the season, this game had goals from the off. Our pressing shape was actually okay, especially in the first half, we squeezed up to Hibs and their keeper immediately lost his nerve and cleared his lines. Raskin intercepted the ball and his header found Dessers. The Nigerian swivelled and finished smartly into the bottom corner for his 29th goal in all competitions this season. That goal put him 2 clear in the league top goalscoring charts and it would stay that way by the end of the game.

1-0 up and we really looked like building on it too. Hibs played into our pressing traps constantly and we were able to gain possession in their third. However, our decision making and use of the ball wasn't particularly great. Cerny hit his finish at the keeper despite seemingly taking the ball on well.

Then came our biggest chance of the half. Raskin made a brilliant run in behind, he was picked out well, tried to poke it beyond the keeper, kind of bundled his way past him and the ball was rolling towards the goal. He and Rocky Bushiri were in a race to the ball which the Belgian won. He poked the ball into the goal and despite Rocky's best efforts, it clearly crossed the line first.

Clear for everyone aside from the linesman and referee it seemed. They didn't give the goal. And to add insult to injury, Hibs promptly went up the other end and equalised.

I've heard from Hibs fans in the stadium that many were absolutely sure that their goal was going to be overturned and a Rangers second awarded.

VAR chose not to intervene, a decision that left everyone utterly bemused. Not least John Brown on Rangers TV who called the decision "corrupt".

That decision and the equaliser took the wind out of our sails for the rest of the half. It's hard to get back into your rhythm when you know you could have been 2 goals to the good if it weren't for some nonsense refereeing.

When we emerged for the second half I don't think we looked particularly energised. If anything the opening exchanges rather passed us by.

It was Rangers that managed to take the lead again though, a good delivery from a corner was headed home through the crowd by Nico Raskin.

At 2-1 we seemed to have tons of opportunities to play our way into a third goal but these were spurned. That was probably when the game should have been put to bed, we didn't take these opportunities and Hibs then got their second equaliser of the game from a Martin Boyle header.

Nicky Cadden has probably been the best left back in the league this season. And part of that is his incredible delivery from wide areas, when he had time and space to make up his mind I was worried. His cross was excellent and Boyle rose highest to head beyond Butland.

The game became fairly stretched after that goal, with both teams making subs to try make the difference. There were decent chances for both teams but honestly I had a feeling we'd seen all the goals we were ever going to.

I realise I never mentioned the biggest heartbreak of the game, Leon Balogun leaving the field injured again. It's not a surprise when once again we've been forced to rely on the 36 year old for a huge portion of the season, his body can't stand up to that kind of punishment. And I think those fans saying he should be starting next year need a bit of a wake up call.

And so, the curtain has closed on another disappointing Rangers season. This was a rebuilding season, but it feels like we need yet another rebuild this summer. We've torn down any building blocks with how shambolic this season has been.

We say goodbye to Barry Ferguson and his interim management team of Billy Dodds, Allan McGregor and Neil McCann. Thanks for Fenerbahce away and Celtic away, but it's time to go.

I'll come back with some more composed thoughts on this season, but I know there won't be any of you that disagree with that short take.

Hope everyone enjoys the sun and the break from Rangers. I'll be back soon.