Rangers' bemusing substitutions capped a distressing experience supporters thought they'd left in the past

Anticipation of a comeback had already been quashed by their team’s languid attempts to find a way back into proceedings. Nonetheless, the sight of Joe Aribo and Scott Arfield trudging off the pitch, 10 minutes on from Ryan Kent’s curtain call, baffled.

To see Ryan Jack enter play in isolation would have perhaps proved popular. But not alongside Steven Davis and Glen Kamara. This was a midfield Steven Gerrard used to preserve leads domestically or provide platforms in Europe - not chase matches.

Until Scott Wright entered play with 10 minutes to go, the personnel was reflective of keeping the score down instead of reverting it.

That along with Connor Goldson’s post-match interview and a meek performance further compounded the type of occasion supporters thought had been left in the past.

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It was clear from early in the game that change was needed. Hibs’ 3-5-2 allowed them to restrict their opponent's width, while Kevin Nisbet and Martin Boyle constantly got the better of Rangers’ centre-back pairing.

A lack of pace in high areas and failure to abandon the narrow front three until Fashion Sakala came on hurt prospects. Even the goal scored by Arfield was the by-product of a Ryan Porteous mistake - not the Ibrox side’s chance creation ability.

Change was needed, but not in the manner in which it arrived.

John Lundstram was also stripped prior to Leon Balogun’s injury, presumably to replace one of the midfield three not join them, but Calvin Bassey came on instead. Lundstram, as seen, has a thunderous drive from range, which was lacking as play circulated around Hibs’ box. But even his abandoned induction poses questions.

Juninho Bacuna, who combined well to drive into the box as well as score in Rangers’ last tie, was surely a better option? Could Ryan Kent not have been kept on the pitch but pinned to a touchline to stretch play? Nathan Patterson would unquestionably have committed opposing markers and helped unlock the defence.

Aribo may have tired but was the brightest attacking threat. Arfield had scored and went close after a late run into the box on another occasion. Hauling off Alfredo Morelos or Glen Kamara, who’s resistance to shoot didn’t suit the nature of the game, could have proved more profitable.

Jack’s introduction alone made sense. His concise, forward passes upped the gears somewhat. In the past, he has been brought on to speed up play from back to front when his side have needed a goal. Playing him with Kamara and Davis didn't upset the Hibs defence. 

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Although the tactical plan foiled and was scripted to the liking of Jack Ross – the loss of individual battles was down to individuals. David McCallum and his team could do nothing as Leon Balogun was turned easily for the second goal and out of position at the third. Goldson himself should have done better for Boyle’s second and third.

The interim coaching team would have also hoped for better deliveries into the final third, a stronger goalkeeping performance alongside the team’s shape proving to be more compact and durable.

Yesterday was a damming product of a starting XI that looked at the end of their cycle and in need of a new manager to introduce new faces while making some difficult decisions on the old ones.