Former Rangers defender Russell Martin has launched a stinging critique of Hibernian's tactical approach following their controversial 1-0 victory over the Ibrox giants at Easter Road, insisting there was "simply no way" Philippe Clement's side deserved to lose the encounter.
The ex-Scotland international, who made over 50 appearances for the Light Blues between 2018-2020, expressed his disbelief at the outcome during a passionate analysis on BBC Sportsound. Martin highlighted Rangers' dominance throughout the match despite Dylan Vente's first-half winner separating the sides.
Martin's Scathing Assessment of Hibs' Approach
"From what I saw, Rangers completely controlled that game from start to finish," Martin stated. "The amount of possession, the chances created, the territory - everything pointed toward a comfortable Rangers victory. Hibs set up with ten men behind the ball for most of the game and basically hoped to sneak something on the break."
The former Norwich City captain was particularly critical of the defensive tactics employed by Hibs manager Nick Montgomery, suggesting the approach went against the spirit of the game. "When you see a home team playing like that at Easter Road, it tells you everything about the respect they have for this Rangers side," he added.
Rangers' Dominance Despite Result
Statistics from the match support Martin's assertions, with Rangers recording 68% possession and attempting 18 shots compared to Hibs' mere 6 efforts on goal. The Gers also won 11 corners while conceding just two throughout the 90 minutes.
"The numbers don't lie," Martin continued. "When you have that level of control away from home, you expect to win. Sometimes football doesn't give you what you deserve, and this was one of those nights. There's no way Rangers should have lost that game based on the balance of play."
Title Race Implications
The surprise result has significant implications for the Scottish Premiership title race, with Rangers missing the opportunity to close the gap on arch-rivals Celtic at the top of the table. Martin believes this performance, despite the result, shows Rangers are moving in the right direction under Philippe Clement.
"The positive for Rangers fans should be the performance level," he noted. "If they play like that every week, they'll win far more games than they lose. Sometimes you have these setbacks, but the quality was clearly there."
Martin's comments have sparked considerable debate among Scottish football supporters, with many agreeing that Rangers were unfortunate to leave Edinburgh empty-handed despite their territorial dominance and numerous scoring opportunities.
