Hibernian 0 Rangers 2: Pat Fenlon's home debut as Hibernian manager ended in defeat today after a Nikica Jelavic brace gave Rangers a 2-0 win and moved the leaders seven points clear of Celtic until the Hoops beat Hearts later in the afternoon.
Hibs remain one point off the foot of the Scottish Premier League after Jelavic struck from the penalty spot following a dour first half and doubled Rangers' advantage on 69 minutes when he headed his second.
Fenlon, however, declared himself pleased with his side’s performance despite the defeat.
“I was pleased with a lot of it," he said. "I thought we played quite well and kept Rangers at bay for a long time.
The Dubliner said the penalty was the turning point. “Up to that (the penalty) I thought we did really well. We are disappointed that we did not get anything out of the game.”
Rangers midfielder Steven Davis thought a halftime tactical switch to 4-4-2 was the catalyst for victory. Manager Ally McCoist decided to ditch his 4-2-3-1 starting formation at the break.
Davis told ESPN: “I thought it worked quite well (the original formation) in the first half. He (McCoist) changed it to 4-4-2 in the second half and we went on to win the game.”
Davis said it was important to continue getting three points.
He said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game as always. We passed the ball quite well without really creating too much (in the first half). Overall it was a decent performance and we deserved to win.”
Victor Wanyama's first goal for Celticgave them a 1-0 victory over Hearts- but it took a late Fraser Forster penalty save to secure the win.
Anthony Stokes hit the bar with a header after the break before Wanyama broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a drive from the edge of the box.
Two minutes from time, though, Wanyama conceded a penalty when he handled in the box but Forster dramatically saved Eggert Jonsson's spot-kick.
Elsewhere, Omar Daley and Jamie Murphy did the damage as Motherwellconsigned Steve Lomas to his first defeat as St Johnstonemanager with a 3-0 victory.
The Motherwell widemen both converted crosses to put Stuart McCall's men well in command before the half-hour mark.
Murphy then appeared to glance home Daley's strike midway through the second half as Motherwell opened up a seven-point lead in third place.
A wonder strike from Graham Carey gave St Mirrena share of the spoils against Aberdeen, who had Fraser Fyvie sent off late on in a pulsating 2-2 draw at Pittodrie.
The Dons looked set to ease to their fourth victory of the season after taking an early 2-0 lead when Scott Vernon netted after only 40 seconds before Rory Fallon's diving header doubled the advantage after 17 minutes.
However McLean latched onto a Steven Thompson header to pull a goal back 10 minutes before the break and Carey's wonderful 35-yard free-kick after 52 minutes earned the Buddies a point.
Fyvie appeared to have scored a late winner for the Dons when his cross was fumbled into the net by Craig Samson, but the goal was ruled out for offside and the midfielder was shown a straight red for dissent following the decision.
Dundee Unitedcompleted a barnstorming second-half comeback, led by substitute Johnny Russell, to overcome an Invernessside who finished the game with 10 men 3-2.
Early goals in either half from Jonny Hayes and Billy McKay had Inverness in front, but United replacement Russell reduced the deficit before a Roman Golobart own goal levelled proceedings.
Russell won the match for the visitors with 12 minutes to go before Caley Thistle's misery was compounded when Davis was dismissed for two bookable offences.
Dunfermline'sclash with Kilmarnockwas postponed due to thick fog. Overnight snow had been cleared from the pitch, but East End Park was shrouded in freezing mist.
Referee Bobby Madden deemed it was not possible for the game to take place so the match joined several in the lower leagues in being called off.
