Rangers stay clear

Rangers ... 2 Hibernian ... 1 Rangers stayed one point clear of Celtic at the top of the Premier League after a controversial victory over Hibernian at Ibrox yesterday.

The Easter Road club left Glasgow bitterly protesting that they should have been given a second-half penalty that could have earned them a point and after-match comments from manager Bobby Williamson are bound to instigate a Scottish Football Association enquiry.

The Hibs boss insisted: "It was a stonewall penalty. The ball hit Bert Konterman's hand that was raised above his head and I don't understand how the referee didn't give it. All you want when you go to Rangers and Celtic is parity and the official is supposed to be brave enough to see these things. Maybe if we had 18,000 Hibs fans he might have been swayed. It is the same with the bookings and every time we're here it happens. As I say, all we're looking for is parity." That outburst is sure to spark disciplinary action.

Michael Mols scored in the 11th minute and Shota Arveladze back-heeled a second in the 35th to seemingly end the proceedings as a contest. But Tom McManus replied shortly before half-time and Hibs an entirely different proposition after the interval.

RANGERS: Klos, Ross, Malcolm, Amoruso (Konterman 52), Numan, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta (Hughes 58), Caniggia (Latapy 68), Mols, Arveladze. Subs Not Used: McGregor, Dodds. Goals: Mols 11, Arveladze 35.

HIBERNIAN: Colgan, Orman (O'Neil 67), Smith, Fenwick, Zambernardi, McManus, Brebner, Wiss, James, O'Connor (Luna 63), Paatelainen. Subs Not Used: Caig, Jack, Doumbe. Booked: James, McManus, Paatelainen, Luna, Zambernardi. Goals: McManus 45.

Referee: M McCurry (Scotland).