SWEET SPOT

Revenge for Rangers as Roofe hits the target

Kemar roofe admitted rangers had used the agony of their Hampden humbling by Hibs to inspire last night’s revenge win at easter road.

On a night of fireworks among the fans and ferocious battles on the park, substitute roofe kept his cool to convert a penalty — conceded by ryan Porteous — with just seven minutes of the 90 remaining.

Victory allowed Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men to enjoy some quick-fire payback for Hibs beating them 3-1 at the national stadium in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final just ten days earlier.

roofe said the Ibrox side had

attacked last night’s game with a point to prove, saying: ‘Of course. That is what football is all about.

‘They did us in the semi-final and it hurt us a lot. So it was important to get the three points today.

‘It was a tough one. We knew it was going to be a tough one away from home and with the atmosphere here. It was always going to be a difficult game.

‘They are a good side. It was an away game at a difficult place to come and we had to grind it out.’

On his own role as match-winner, Roofe said: ‘That is the job if you are coming on as a sub.

‘You have to make an impact and help the team get over the finishing line. The guys that came on, I think we did that.’

A pyrotechnic display in the away end before kick-off was followed by a suspension of play early in the second half, as stewards moved to clear the pitch of smoke bombs thrown by both sets of supporters.

Whether or not charges follow from that, Van Bronckhorst could reflect on a victory that took his team seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership for at least 24 hours, with Celtic hosting Hearts in Glasgow tonight.

The Dutchman said: ‘It was a very big win. It was a tough game as we expected before kick-off. The game showed that it was really close.

‘There was a lot of physical play from both teams and not many chances. But we’ll take the win and it’s three more points for us.

‘The game was decided by transition moments. In the first half, we had some good moments to score. There was a great chance for Alfredo Morelos.

‘In the second half, you could see when we won the ball we had the spaces to attack.

‘However, we weren’t too sharp in those moments and we gave a lot of loose balls away.

‘So we had those transition moments to defend as well.

‘But those moments were there for both teams — but luckily for us we came away with the win.

‘It’s always good to come to places like Hibs away, it’s a tough opponent and they’re a good side, very well organised.

‘So to keep a zero here is massive for us because we knew we would always get chances.

‘Today we scored from a penalty and after that we controlled the game with the substitutions.’

On Roofe’s chances of forcing his way into the starting XI, Van Bronckhorst said: ‘There needs to be competition in any team and any squad.

‘I have to pick my 11 and also change the game with my subs. That is my role, to see what the team needs at moments of the game.

‘I wanted to bring on Fashion Sakala and then we got the penalty and I switched to John Lundstram. Those are the moments when you have to decide and I think I decided well.’

Hibs boss Jack Ross singled out Porteous for special praise despite the defender conceding the crucial penalty.

‘I think there’s a spotlight that falls upon him in this fixture,’ said Ross of a player who has been sent off twice against Rangers.

‘And he’s handled that really well. There will be a spotlight on him again over the concession of the penalty. But he’s shown tonight whey he’s such a good young centre-half.

‘The time John Beaton took to gave the penalty actually gave me encouragement, because you’re thinking he’s maybe not sure.

‘Ryan was adamant he pulled out and there was minimum contact. I would agree. It’s 50-50.

‘I would claim for it in the opposition box. But I think it’s 50-50 and it goes against us.

‘To lose the game in that manner makes it doubly disappointing.

‘Frustration is the emotion because we didn’t deserve to lose. We were strong in all aspects, maybe just not working Allan McGregor enough.

‘The strength of performance against the champions was really good. We got into good areas and looked like a strong team again. We just need to turn that into a run of results and move back up the table.

‘Christian Doidge will be back from suspension for the weekend. He missed a bounce game through illness yesterday, so he’s not had much luck. That gives us that other option up front, which we need.’