'I've got a feeling this could be Hibs' night' - Journalists' predictions for Hibs v Rangers

Our online team try to predict the correct result as Hibs host Rangers at Easter Road this evening
The last clash at Easter Road, in March, wasn't without incident...The last clash at Easter Road, in March, wasn't without incident...
The last clash at Easter Road, in March, wasn't without incident...

Mark Atkinson

I am really looking forward to this match. Hibs will take this game to Rangers and make it a proper contest. The fact it is a Friday night over the festive season will make the atmosphere excellent.

Rangers are going to miss Alfredo Morelos. While Jermain Defoe is a very tidy striker at this level, he doesn't bully defenders and lead the line like Morelos does. Rangers will need to alter their style of play. Hibs have enough in their armoury to hurt Rangers.

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This is Jack Ross' first big home match as Hibs manager and I think he'll guide his team to something here. Prediction: Hibs 1-1 Rangers

Anthony Brown

There’s a positive vibe flowing through Hibs at present that makes it easy to envisage them collecting at least a point against a Rangers side contending for the title. There is big pressure on the visitors to get a victory and close the gap on Celtic at the top of the table, but with Hibs’ main dangermen Scott Allan, Martin Boyle, Florian Kamberi and Christian Doidge all in good form, I’ve got a feeling this could be the hosts’ night. Prediction: Hibs win

Craig Fowler

Hibs against Rangers. Two teams who have enjoyed quite an intense rivalry over the previous five season, playing in a night game on the day where so many workers get a half day before leaving for Christmas - the day hospitality workers call "Black Friday" because of the sheer volume of drunkenness - in the same year where a fan was jailed for going on to the pitch and attacking Gers captain James Tavernier.

What's my prediction? Mayhem! That's my prediction.

As for the football, Rangers will miss Morelos, get rattled by a raucous Easter Road crowd and drop further behind Celtic in the title race. Prediction: Score draw.

Neil McGlade

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This fixture has become one of the Scottish football calendar’s most attractive in recent seasons. There have been a few crackers. Hibs have made steady improvement under Jack Ross, both defensively and in an attacking sense. They competed well at Celtic Park last weekend but didn’t do nearly enough to warrant anything from the game.

I expect similar endeavour from Hibs against Rangers but, being the home side, they’ll be expected to show more quality and purpose in the final third.

The visitors will be missing Alfredo Morelos and his omission can’t be overlooked. But Steven Gerrard has the likes of Jermain Defoe to call upon in his absence. It is likely to be a full throttle affair but one I think Rangers will just edge. Prediction: Rangers win

Patrick McPartlin

There's no doubting Rangers' quality but they can occasionally be a bit of an unknown quantity on the road. They raced into a 2-0 lead at Pittodrie against Aberdeen earlier this month before blowing the lead and drawing the match 2-2. They found it tough going at Livingston in the Betfred Cup, and Hearts took a point off them at Tynecastle in October, so it's not unthinkable that Hibs could get something from the game.

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The visitors are also without the suspended Alfredo Morelos, although having Jermain Defoe to fill the Buffalo's boots doesn't really represent much of a decline in attacking quality. Easter Road has become more of a difficult place for visiting teams since the arrival of Jack Ross, and Rangers haven't won in Leith in over two years. The two teams also played out a memorable 5-5 draw at the end of the 2017/18 season.

While that won't happen again (bookmark this page now, folks) I can see another score draw at Easter Road under the lights. Prediction: Draw

Joel Sked

This should be an absolutely belting fixture. Jack Ross wants his side to be beating the Old Firm and was disappointed with the outcome of visit to Celtic on Sunday.

He will expect a much tighter, back and forth game at Easter Road. Shorn of their best player, Rangers will see a visit to Leith as treacherous territory as they try to keep up with Celtic at the top of the table.

Ross may consider changing the make-up of his midfield to be more competitive against Steven Gerrard's men but they will try and play on the front foot. Prediction: Draw