Frustrated Philippe Clement felt Rangers were in full control until Hibernian equalised with a penalty that he was adamant should not have been awarded in Sunday’s dramatic 3-3 draw at Easter Road.
Rangers looked on course to follow up their 3-0 derby demolition of Celtic on Thursday by blowing Hibs away as they led 2-0 after 19 minutes through Hamza Igamane’s double.
But the hosts roared back to level the scores through a Martin Boyle brace, the second of which came on the hour after Josh Campbell was judged to have been fouled by Ianis Hagi as he burst into the box.
The Light Blues regained the lead in 74th minute when Igamane completed his hat-trick, but they were unable to close out victory as Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri headed home an 83rd-minute equaliser.
“It’s a frustrating afternoon to lose three points in different ways,” he said. “First, we played a really good first half, finding the spaces that we wanted to find, good chances, good goals, defensively solid. Second half, it became more of a game, Hibs came more into the game.
“The penalty situation I don’t understand. It’s a situation with a small collision between two players on top speed, where even the attacking players gets Ianis down by getting his legs from behind.
“That was a very important moment in the game, because you create momentum for Hibs.
“Then we come back, still to make it 2-3, and then it’s disappointing on a set-piece to lose this header and to lose two points. But we know also the situation we are in, with so many defenders out.
“It’s a disappointing afternoon to lose two points, because there were a lot of positives of the team also. But at the end, you will remember the results, and that’s not good enough.”
Gers have now dropped points in three successive away matches and are depleted in defence with Dujon Sterling going off injured in the second half at Easter Road and Leon Balogun, John Souttar and James Tavernier already out, along with first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Clement, who felt a lack of “freshness” contributed to his team failing to build on their strong start against Hibs, is hoping he can bolster his squad this month, although he hinted that finances may be an issue..
“I think every manager feels that, and for sure in the situation we are for the moment with injuries and everything,” he said when asked if he needed reinforcements. “But there’s also the situation of the club. You need to pay it also, and I’m not the one who can pay that. I don’t have that money.”
“That’s something that Patrick (Stewart, the recently-appointed chief executive) will address towards you guys. He wants to give that explanation what is the plan for January.”
Hibs have now lost only one of their last nine matches and manager David Gray was delighted with the resolve they showed to overcome their chastening start and claim a point.
“A great game for the neutral, not so much for a coach,” he said. “But massive credit to the players for the second-half performance, and for hanging in there in the first half because Rangers started miles better.
“We had to rely on the goalkeeper a couple of times and we were hanging in there; we tweaked the shape a wee bit, which definitely helped. I thought from our second-half performance, we got at least what we deserved from the game.”
