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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Christopher Jack

Michael Beale makes eight goal claim as Rangers ease to win over Hibernian

MICHAEL BEALE reckons Rangers could have scored eight times at Easter Road as they eased to a commanding victory over Hibernian.

The hosts took an early lead when Connor Goldson converted into his own net but a James Tavernier penalty saw Rangers pull level and they never looked back.

Antonio Colak scored twice and Fashion Sakala was also on target on a night where the Light Blues squandered a series of chances and should have won by an even greater margin.

Beale said: "It was very equal to the last time that we were in Edinburgh across the city. The energy was right from the first minute, I thought the front three pressed really well, the midfield backed it up behind and the one poor moment on the night was how we defended the set play.

"Our organisation was wrong for the first goal but after that, and even before that, I thought some of our play was good. Certainly after that we were excellent.

"We scored four and probably should have scored double that and that is not being disrespectful. We missed big chances tonight.

"Had some fantastic play and the energy was good. That all comes from the out of possession stuff, really."

Rangers remain nine points adrift of Celtic in the Premiership title race but have maintained their league momentum and are still unbeaten under Beale's guidance.

A Scottish Cup clash with Raith Rovers awaits this weekend and the Ibrox boss is keen to see his side kick on once again following an emphatic victory.

"Yeah, but we’ve had those conversations," Beale said when asked if the standard had been set for the rest of the campaign. "At half-time at the weekend we were very good, in the second half I was a bit bemused, I reminded them of that at half-time today that we must start better and we did.

"For me, it’s important they drive the standards on the pitch, I want them to drive it. They look like they enjoyed it tonight. If they enjoyed it, just keep doing it, if you let it slip there’s good players waiting to come in.

"There was a few unhappy faces when the team was named tonight but there’s nowhere to go when the starting team is playing so well."

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