Scottish Cup final preview: Rangers v Hibernian

Scottish Cup

2016-05-21 - Rangers v Hibernian

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Rangers

Marc Warburton was surprisingly let go as manager of Brentford last summer, but was quickly appointed as manager of Glasgow Rangers with a clear objective in mind. That was completed when Rangers were finally promoted back to the Scottish Premier League, but this could be a special season if the club can add the Scottish Cup to the Challenge Cup and the Scottish Championship to their haul.

The side beat three Scottish Premier League clubs on their way to the Final, but none would have meant more to the fans than Rangers knocking out rivals Celtic in the Cup Semi Final. Wins over Kilmarnock and Dundee will set Rangers up for next season, but it was that penalty shoot out win over Celtic that stands out for them.

Since that win over Celtic, Rangers have failed to win any of 4 games in the Championship, but promotion had been secured and the focus of the players might have been on this Scottish Cup Final. Rangers had lost 1 of 21 games in all competitions which culminated in the success over Celtic, but they have lost half of their last 4 games.

Hibernian

The expectation for the season in the Scottish Championship was that both Rangers and Hibernian would be pushing one another for promotion back to the Premier League. While Rangers achieved their aim, Hibernian were beaten in a highly entertaining Play Off Semi Final by Falkirk and know their fate for next season is set as they face another season in the Championship.

That disappointment has to be set aside as the players look to win the Scottish Cup and remove some negative history. Hibernian have won the Cup twice before, the last time in 1902, but they have lost 10 Finals in a row including the last time they reached this stage in 2013. Like their opponents, the most memorable result for Hibs in this Cup run was their win over rivals Hearts.

Hibernian have won 1 of their last 4 games in all competitions, but it will be the 3-2 defeat in the Play Off Second Leg against Falkirk which will hurt the most. They have won 4 of their last 11 games in all competitions as they head into the Scottish Cup Final.