Rangers: BBC Sport journalist shares ‘self-destruct’ verdict after what happened in Hibernian.

When Hibernians faced Rangers at Easter Road, players Jordan Obita and Nathan Moriah-Welsh “hit the self-destruct button.”

Journalist Kheredine Idessane of BBC Sport says as much, following the players’ dismissals from the Scottish Cup match.

John Lundstram and Fabio Silva scored goals as the Gers defeated the opposition 2-0 on Sunday, March 10, in their quarterfinal encounter.

“From a Hibs perspective, they will be sorry for the three crazy minutes in the second half when two players chose to put themselves out of their own team and utterly destroy any possibility that they might have forced extra time,” Idessane wrote for BBC Sport.

“This was a match at 1-0 with 11 men. Hibs was obviously going to be unable to halt this Rangers machine’s momentum with nine players on the field.

“The home team has yet to defeat the Ibrox team at Easter Road; that last occurred in 2016.”

Hibs duo let team down in 2-0 loss to Rangers at Easter Road

Not all of the blame can go to Hibs pair Obita and Moriah-Welsh, but they can definitely be criticised following their red cards in the capital.

At the time of both sendings off, the visitors led 1-0; Lundstram had given Philippe Clement’s team the lead at Easter Road early on.

Even so, Obita’s red card in the 68th minute dealt a serious blow to the home team’s hopes of leveling, and three minutes later Moriah-Welsh followed him to the dressing room.

Shortly later, Silva, a striker for Rangers, extended his team’s lead, guaranteeing the Ibrox club’s spot in the Scottish Cup last four.

With a 4-2 victory over Livingston at home earlier on Sunday, fierce rivals Celtic guaranteed their place in the semi-finals. Hearts and Greenock Morton will play in the final quarter-final on Monday, March 11.

Following that match, the semi-final draw will take place. Rangers will undoubtedly be trying to avoid Brendan Rodgers’ team, while Aberdeen is still in the running.

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