Hibernian claimed a dramatic 2-1 win at Rangers as substitute Callum Wright struck deep into added time, turning an apparent late recovery by the home side into a damaging defeat for Derek McInnes.
Hibs had led through Josh Campbell’s penalty, awarded after a VAR review judged Rangers debutant Vanja Dragojevic to have brought down Jason Kerr in the box. Rangers finally found a route back in the 85th minute when Miguel Chaiwa put through his own net under pressure, but they could not hold on. Wright’s composed finish into the far corner in the closing moments settled a match that had swung repeatedly in momentum.
A comeback that never became control
Rangers’ equaliser had the feel of a release after a long spell of attacking intent. Yet the decisive detail was not simply that they conceded again; it was the speed with which a level scoreline exposed their uncertainty.
A home team who had committed bodies forward in search of an equaliser were vulnerable to the transition that followed. Hibs, rather than settling for a point after Chaiwa’s own goal, retained enough ambition and composure to exploit that space. Wright’s intervention was therefore more than a late flourish. It was a punishment for Rangers failing to turn territorial pressure into control of the game.
The result leaves McInnes without a victory in his opening three matches in charge and makes his first home outing especially uncomfortable. New managers are not normally judged solely on a stoppage-time setback, but defeats of this type tend to magnify every unresolved issue: chance creation, game management and the emotional response when a match slips away.
Reports also indicated that Rangers lost Youssef Chermiti to injury before half-time, with the forward leaving on a stretcher. That incident matters beyond one afternoon. Chermiti had been the subject of interest from Galatasaray, whose approach was unsuccessful, and his condition may now become an immediate concern for a Rangers side seeking attacking continuity under a new manager. The available reporting does not establish the severity of the problem, so it remains premature to draw conclusions about his absence.
Hibs make the big moments count
David Gray’s side were clinical in the moments that shaped the contest. Campbell converted the opening penalty after the video review, then Wright supplied a finish of real calm when the occasion demanded it most.
Kerr’s involvement in winning the penalty was important, particularly because Dragojevic was making his first Rangers start following his move from Partizan Belgrade. Debuts can be revealing without being definitive. The foul will inevitably place scrutiny on the midfielder, but Rangers’ broader defensive issue was collective: after fighting back late, they did not protect the point that was within reach.
For Hibs, the win is a sharp reversal of their league form as it stood on 19 September, when they had lost four of their previous six Premiership matches. That run makes the Ibrox result notable, but it should not be treated as proof that their earlier problems have vanished. Instead, it shows what a side can achieve when its defensive resolve, set-piece discipline and decision-making in transition all align in a high-pressure setting.
The visitors also showed a useful psychological resilience. An own goal so late in the game can drain a team, especially away from home at Ibrox. Hibs responded by creating the final decisive moment rather than attempting merely to see out added time.
Questions for McInnes after a harsh debut
The immediate narrative is one of a Hibs shock, but the longer-term significance rests with Rangers’ response. McInnes inherited a side needing momentum, and this result denies him the lift that an equaliser seemed to offer. The match contained evidence of persistence from Rangers, yet persistence alone did not secure the result.
There are mitigating circumstances. A new signing made a costly early error, while Chermiti’s departure altered the attacking options available. Neither explanation, however, fully accounts for the late defensive lapse. Rangers had enough of the match to recover from the penalty setback, but not enough authority over its final stages.
Hibs, by contrast, depart with a result that can strengthen belief as much as it improves their immediate standing. Campbell supplied the first decisive act, Kerr helped force it, and Wright delivered the last. Their win was built on taking those moments rather than allowing the occasion to overwhelm them.