Scottish Premiership

RANGERS boss Michael Beale has already stressed that he wants to tie Ryan Kent down to a new deal at Ibrox – but he now faces a battle to keep him.Even with Kent being out of sorts this season, his performances in Europe over the last three years have attracted suitors from south of the border as they look to lure the wing ace to the Premier League.
Ryan Kent could be off to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
There has been long-term interest from Leeds United who’ve been credited with tracking the 26-year-old for the last two seasons, among others.
And with six months left on his current Ibrox deal, Beale could well be up against it if he is to convince Kent to put pen to paper when he could walk away from Ibrox for nothing in the summer.
The Gers boss previously spoke of his desire to work with the winger and hopefully convince him to commit his future to Rangers.
Speaking about Kent and Alfredo Morelos, he said: “With every player, he’s got to be value for money, hasn’t he?

“I think the most important thing at the minute is the two boys get on doing what they do best — and that’s playing football.
“I believe I’m the ideal person to manage both players (Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos) because of the previous relationship and having seen them at their best for Rangers.
“They can get that back very quickly, so let’s take another review in the coming days.
“But I’m really optimistic they can go and prove they should be here.
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“In terms of finances, they have obviously got very good agents. We’re very strong on our side and we’ll probably meet somewhere in the middle.”
But Beale’s hopes of retaining Kent could have taken a further blow today after another Premier League side, Southampton, emerged as the latest side to enter the race for his prized asset.
Saints boss Nathan Jones is said to be ‘targeting’ a move worth £5million for the Rangers winger, according to the Daily Mirror
The St Mary’s side currently sit second bottom and are eyeing some more experienced players to help their young squad survive the battle for the drop and it has been suggested that Kent could help give them that balance.
Southampton were also last night credited with an interest in Celtic whizz kid Liel Abada after his stunning start to life at Celtic following his arrival last summer.
But Hoops chiefs are prepared to rebuff any interest from the South Coast side and any other Premier League clubs by opening talks over fresh terms with the Israeli winger next month.
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TEMPERATURES plummeted at Ibrox.But all that mattered for Rangers was that they ended the night six below.
Alfredo Morelos celebrates his goalCredit: Getty
Morelos converts after Tillman (on the ground) had carved open the defenceCredit: Reuters
Ryan Porteous scores for Hibs and celebrates
Michael Beale must have worried his side would freeze after twice going behind.
But the new Ibrox boss watched his men turn the heat on Hibs with a heart-warming fightback.
The Hibees went ahead from a Ryan Porteous header with Kevin Nisbet netting on his return from injury after Fashion Sakala had made it 1-1.
But the second-half belonged to Beale’s team with Ryan Jack levelling before Alfredo Morelos’ wonderful winner.

It was must win for Beale and his side with league leaders Celtic in action at the weekend but crucially they got the job done.
Hibs’ form going into his game didn’t cover them in any glory.
Lee Johnson’s side had won just one of their last seven league games with the other six all defeats.
That’s just not good enough for a side with one of the Premiership’s healthiest budgets.
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This isn’t a club renowned for being patient with their managers.
Just as Shaun Maloney and Jack Ross, who was at Ibrox last night as a Sky Sports pundit.
Maybe that’s why Johnson mixed things up.
Porteous has made his name as a solid centre-back, even forcing his way into the Scotland national team in that role.
Here he played in midfield.
It was clearly a ploy from Johnson to add to strength and competitiveness into the middle of the park. And initially it worked.
Josh Campbell was another one shifted out of his natural position.
The midfielder, who scored against Rangers at Easter Road earlier this season, was shunted further forward to play off the front.
Fashion Sakala scores for Rangers
He linked up with Nisbet who was back in action for the first time since February, when he suffered a ACL knee injury.
So it wasn’t like this was a Hibs line-up that’s had plenty of game-time together.
It was almost make-shift with Johnson deciding he had to do something to get better results.
Maybe he saw it as a free hit against a Rangers side that was bound to get a new manager bounce.
Whatever it was, Hibs were superb in the first-half and played nothing like a team that’s been toiling.
They took the lead after only eight minutes with Rangers conceding their latest goal from a corner.
A simple ball into the box just wasn’t defended properly with Porteous beating John Lundstram to it to head past Allan McGregor.
The big man they call Porto ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the away fans.
Rangers fans were stunned and it looked like the team was too.
But in 15 minutes Sakala made it 1-1.
It was a slick move from right to left with Malik Tillman combining with Ryan Kent before Sakala drilled past David Marshall.
At that point the majority of the 50,000 crowd expected Rangers to grab the game by the scruff of the neck there and then.
But Hibs had other ideas.
Virtually straight from kick-off, they went on the attack with Marijan Cabraja playing a ball through for Nisbet who burst into the box.
The striker still had plenty to do to score but smashed a sensational shot high into the net.
Incredibly there were just 53 seconds between the two goals.
Rangers tried to regroup again and Beale’s men had a series of moments when they threatened.
But Hibs were full of confidence themselves and also had chances to add to their lead.
🎙️ “ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴀʟꜰʀᴇᴅᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴇʟᴏꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪꜱ ᴄᴜꜱᴛᴏᴍᴀʀʏ ɢᴏᴀʟ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ʜɪʙꜱ…”Rangers take the lead at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/TvrShTLFDk— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 15, 2022

🎙️ “ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴀ ʀᴇʟɪᴇꜰ ꜰᴏʀ ʀᴀɴɢᴇʀꜱ…”Ryan Jack turns the ball in to pull the Ibrox side level. Rangers 2-2 Hibs pic.twitter.com/A3jTwBnfhV— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 15, 2022

Campbell rattled the side-netting with one shot and then set up Elie Youan with an even better opportunity but aimed his shot straight at the Ibrox No1.
Hibs fans probably spent the half-time break wondering if it would be a moment they’d regret.
Rangers were always going to come out after the interval and throw everything at the Edinburgh side.
The question was whether Johnson’s men would be able to cope.
Given their recent run of results it was always unlikely they’d have what it would take.
Having a goalkeeper of the class of Marshall gave them a fighting chance.
The former Scotland star made an incredible save to keep out a header from Sakala from point blank range after 54 minutes.
In truth the hitman should have burst the net, but credit has to go to the Hibs No1 for refusing to be beaten.
It was coming, though.
Rangers had their tails up again and looking more and more dangerous by the second.
It felt inevitable that they’d get another goal to draw level, and in 58 minutes they did.
James Tavernier played in a corner which was flicked on at the near post by Tillman.
Holding off his marker, Jack was in the perfect position to score to make it 2-2.
Hibs looked spent there and then. They’d put so much into the first-half but their energy levels were drained from their legs.

And there was absolutely nothing they could do to stop Rangers from taking the lead for the first time of the night just four minutes after they’d made it 2-2.
Tavernier played another lovely ball into the box for Tillman and the on-loan Bayern Munich midfielder showed brilliant feet to side-step Paul Hanlon.
The USA man could have been forgiven for shooting on goal but chose the selfless option by cutting the ball back for Morelos.
All the Colombian had to do was hit the target to be the match winner of a fantastic game of football.
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HEARTS’ friendly clash with Spanish side Almeria has been ABANDONED after a brawl broke out on the pitch.The Jambos were taking on the La Liga outfit in Marbella as they gear up for their return to Premiership action in a couple of weeks’ time.
The melee was sparked by a challenge from Alex Cochrane
Hearts defender Cochrane was left on the ground
Players from both sides piled in before the referee abandoned the game
Robbie Neilson sent out a strong side, including a number of key first team stars with the likes of Lawrence Shankland, Barrie McKay and Michael Smith all featuring.
Things were going along fairly normally, with Almeria taking a 28th minute lead through Dyego Sousa.
But ten minutes later, carnage broke out.
Footage shows a late challenge from Alex Cochrane being met with a furious response by an Almeria player who instantly confronts the Jambos defender.

Then from nowhere, another Almeria player comes flying in with Cochrane sent to the ground clutching his face.
Players from both sides then get involved, with coaching staff also spilling onto the pitch in the heated scenes.
There’s plenty of pushing and shoving, while punches also allegedly look to be thrown.
Cochrane and Almeria’s Rodrigo Ely were shown red cards by the referee in the aftermath.
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However, the official was in no mood to let things go on any further, and called a halt to proceedings.
Hearts tweeted shortly after: “Following altercations between both sets of players, the decision has been made to abandon the match.”
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