Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Hibernian 0 Rangers 3
Sunday 22^nd August 2010

Kenny Miller returned to haunt his former club at the new-look Easter Road with a hat-trick as Rangers picked up maximum points.

The first half had been dominated by Hibernian, but just before the interval both teams were reduced to ten men when Kyle Lafferty and Kevin McBride were given their marching orders.

Rangers adjusted to the loss of a man better than Hibernian and in the second half they ran out convincing winners.

Manager John Hughes made two changes to the team that defeated Motherwell in last weekend's Scottish Premier League opener at Fir Park.

Goalkeeper Mark Brown took over in goals from the injured Graham Stack to make his competitive debut ironically against the club where he began his career.

Hibernian started brightly in the summer sunshine with in-form striker Derek Riordan attempting to catch out goalkeeper Allan McGregor early on with a cheeky lob that was just too high.

The Easter Road men went close again to an early opener when only the fingertips of McGregor prevented Anthony Stokes from scoring after a headed cross from Michael Hart.

Hibernian were certainly enjoying the better of the play with Rangers rarely seen as an attacking threat.

A game that had been played at an incredible tempo but nevertheless in was sporting spirit saw a flash point on 34 minutes when McGregor and Riordan collided after going for Paul Hanlon's cross.

The pair had to be separated by match official Iain Brines after remonstrating with one another and both picked up yellow cards for their troubles.

Rangers' first real effort on goal came just five minutes before the interval when Steven Davis pounced on a weak punch from Brown to send a diving header towards gaol that was cleared from the line by Sol Bamba.

Then two minutes before the interval came a controversial moment that saw both sides reduced to ten men after a sickening challenge from Lafferty on Miller saw the Rangers forward handed a red card. He was quickly followed down the tunnel by McBride but the reasoning behind his dismissal was unclear.

After the break Riordan stung the hands of McGregor with a fierce drive from distance that the goalkeeper managed to gather at the second attempt.

Against the run of play Rangers should have opened the scoring soon after.A looping cross from Steven Naismith picked the unmarked Miller at the back post but the striker's header - from only four yards out - was well over the top.

Riordan limped from the field to be replaced by Daniel Galbraith after failing to shake off a knee injury picked up in following an accidental clash with Madjid Bougherra.

Despite the loss of the striker Hibernian continued to carve out opportunities for themselves and Stokes should have done better when presented with a free header inside the visitor's penalty box, only to direct his attempt wide from Hart's cross.

A fantastic ball over the top from Hart released Galbraith into the penalty box, the substitute's cut back took McGregor out of the play but before de Graaf could score he had the ball taken away from him by a fantastic intervention from Bougherra.

That last gasp challenge would prove pivotal as Rangers opened the scoring seconds later.

Brown failed to hold a fierce shot from Papac, James Beattie gathered the loose ball before picking out Miller and he slammed it high into the Hibernian net.

Worse was to follow as Hart was forced to leave the field after picking up an injury and before the reshuffled Hibernian side could find their feet they were two goals behind.

Rangers substitute Weiss got in behind the Hibernian defence from the left and his cut back was turned into the net by Miller for his second of the afternoon.

The card count continued to rise when Bougherra was cautioned for a crunching challenge on Miller neat the touchline after the defender lost possession.

Goalkeeper Brown made two sensational stops late on to keep out net bound efforts from Weiss and Edu as last season's champions finished strongly.

Miller completed his hat-trick in time added on when he raced clear of the Hibernian defence before driving a left foot shot across Brown and into the far corner of the net.

Overall, the scoreline flattered the visitors and din't pain an accurate portrait of a game that had promises so much - in front of the breathtaking East Stand.

Hibernian: Brown, Hart (Rankin 68'), Hogg, de Graaf, Riordan (Galbraith 54'), McBride, Stokes, Hanlon (Nish 68'), Wotherspoon, Bamba, Miller. Subs: Smith, Nish, Rankin, Thicot, Stevenson, Galbraith, Stephens.

Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Edu, Davis, Miller, Lafferty, Naismith, Whittaker, Beattie (Weiss 65), Bougherra.Subs: Alexander, Broadfoot, Weiss, McMillan, Little, Wylde, Hutton.

Referee: Iain Brines.

Attendance: 17, 145