The big question hanging over Rangers’ final home game of this dismal season was whether any of the punters would even bother turning up to watch it.
Many of those who did — and there were far more than anticipated — would have expected to, if nothing else, get the opportunity to see James Tavernier take to the field at Ibrox for the last time.
They probably didn’t think he would do so donning a suit instead of a kit, mind you.
Yes, Tavernier was treated to a standing ovation before kick-off and a low-key presentation led by club legend John Greig, but that was to be his only involvement on the night.
The reason? A sensational bust-up with manager Danny Rohl a few hours earlier. Honestly, you couldn’t make it up.
Rohl said: ‘With Tav, I didn’t expect this. The medical department said he was not available. I made the call, convinced him that he can have an injection later, and he said he would be available today.
James Tavernier shows his emotion as he is presented with a plaque by Ibrox icon John Greig
‘My job is to make decisions on who starts and who is a sub. I wished that he would get some minutes. He didn’t accept that he would not start, and then stayed away from the team.’
On whether Tavernier has made his last appearance for the club, Rohl said: ‘We will see.’
If this is to be the end of his Rangers career — and you assume it will be — then it’s a sad way to bow out.
Look, the guy’s legs have gone. No one would dispute that. His display in the defeat to Celtic on Sunday only confirmed it.
He has split opinion amongst the Ibrox fanbase for much of his 11-year stay at the club. One top-flight title and a couple of domestic cups hardly takes up much space on the old CV, does it?
Some would argue he should have been punted years ago. But, for all his faults, his commitment to the cause has never been up for debate. Time and time again, he has been the one to front up in the wake of another chastening loss. At least he was spared this time. Small mercies and all that.
In a game which was essentially meaningless for the hosts, this was a chance for Rohl to freshen things up a little and give some of the younger lads some minutes. Not a bit of it.
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Half of this lot are going to be off in a week. Frankly, he’s not going to learn a whole lot new about his players that he didn’t already know.
For starters, they still can’t defend properly, as highlighted by the way in which Hibs took the lead on five minutes.
A move which started on the corner of their own penalty box ended with Martin Boyle rattling home a fine volley at the back post after being picked out by Jordan Obita on the left flank. The marking was non-existent.
In response, Mikey Moore left two Hibs defenders in a tangle 25 yards out before getting a shot away which deflected into the path of Thelo Aasgaard, who fired straight at Raphael Sallinger.
The Hibs keeper thwarted Youssef Chermiti from a tight angle shortly after, before pulling out a wonderful stop at full stretch to tip Connor Barron’s curler from range around the post.
However, he had no chance of stopping Aasgaard’s leveller from a free-kick into the top corner just five minutes before the break. Very Tavernier-esque, you might say.
Rangers started the second period on the front foot, but it was all far too safe in the final third. All too predictable.
More questions will be asked of Danny Rohl after an unprecedented fourth straight defeat
Moore did his level best to inject some energy as the contest entered the final quarter, forcing Sallinger into another stop from 10 yards before Bojan Miovski blazed the rebound high and wide.
Jack Butland had to be at his best twice in quick succession with five minutes to play, getting down sharp to deny Dane Scarlett before getting a strong hand on Felix Passlack’s follow-up.
That simply delayed the inevitable, with Scarlett tapping in unopposed on the goal line from Passlack’s cutback to seal the win. A win over Motherwell on Saturday will see David Gray’s men secure European qualification.
Manager David Gray said: ‘Thankfully the results have gone our way tonight, which we needed after a slow start post-split.
‘All we could do was win our game. It gives us a chance against Motherwell at home.
‘It will be a difficult game but the players will be ready for it.’
