Barry Ferguson was on hand to offer a little pep talk before Rangers women went out to sweep the floor with Hibs at Fir Park but the credit for this display lies firmly at the wisdom of Jo Potter.
Against a team that they had not beaten in two attempts so far this season, Rangers flexed all the muscle that has come to be associated with Potter’s side this term; clinical, ruthless and menacing with every forward incursion.
Hibs, who currently sit at the top of the SWPL with a two-point cushion, have been excellent this season. Grant Scott’s side have been bold and imaginative but Rangers robbed them off any belief in this game virtue of their approach from the off in this game.
There was no real stage within the 90 minutes where Hibs looked like the Hibs that have forced themselves to the summit of the table.
There was just a goal in it at the break but there had been little doubt that Rangers had been on top. Katie Wilkinson gave them a tangible lead eight minutes before the break before the Ibrox side properly turned the screw.
Read more:
-
Vaclav Cerny's match-worn shirt sparks bidding frenzy after Parkhead water incident
-
Scott Arfield lifts lid on 'fascinating view' of Barry Ferguson's gameplan vs Celtic
Two goals within four minutes of the restart from Camille Lafaix and a Kirsten Reilly own-goal had the game effectively over as a contest.
Rangers kept their foot to the floor with further goals in the latter stages from Kirsty Howat and Rio Hardy. There might well have been more given the dominancy of Rangers.
Hibs goalkeeper Erin Clachers will feel that she might have done more with the second goal as she got a hand to Lafaix’s effort but could not keep it out but she redeemed herself with a number of decent saves in the second period.
And while Potter enjoyed the result, the performance and, of course, the celebrations, the big question now is just what this means going into the business end of the season. Hibs have surpassed all expectation of them so far this term and it will be interesting to see just what the reaction is now as they prepare for a fraught title run-in.
Certainly, Potter accepted that there is a psychological advantage now to draw upon as the season begins to heat up.
“We want to win every trophy available,” said Potter, who is the only women’s manager who could claim a domestic treble this season.
“We know how close we were last season to getting all three. It just does give you that little extra edge to say ‘come on, girls, let’s go again.’
“We have put ourselves in the best possible position now. We have to take confidence from the manner of that performance and the way we went out and applied ourselves.”
Ferguson was not the only familiar face who watched the game. Judy Murray was in attendance while David Gray, Malky Mackay and David Marshall were also there to offer support.
And Potter was keen to emphasise that Ferguson’s appearance and pre-match chat was not about box-ticking optics.
“Barry coming down, that wasn’t Barry being told to come down, by the way,” said Potter. “He asked if could come down and support us and we were obviously delighted. He came into the dressing room before the game to speak to the girls.
“He wasn’t in there to make it about him or anything like that he just wanted to say good luck and say to them to go out there and do what they can do. It means a lot because it is coming from a good place.
“He wanted us to do well and you can see that from Barry. He is Rangers through and through and that shines through.”
As the whistle blew and Rangers kicked off the celebrations, Scott took his side into a huddle with the Hibs manager revealing that his immediate aim was to remind his players of just how far they have come in a short space of time.
The bigger challenge he may face across the next few weeks is ensuring that the confidence which seemed to abandon his side at Fir Park has not evaporated as they look to sustain the progress of this season.
“It is a sore one and we need to dust ourselves down and move on very quickly,” he said. “I just said to them on the pitch that every good team that I am aware of has gone through something like this.
“It is now that you show the character to dust yourself down and learn from it.
“League matches come thick and fast now and we have no time to wallow in this now.
“There is no time for overthinking it.
"We do feel a bit emotionally raw at the minute. That is natural but the most important thing now is that we react to this.
“We had one spell at 3-0 down where we tried to play like ourselves but, yes, there is no doubt that it really is a sore one.
“Every good team reacts well and that is exactly what we have to do. It has been a very good season up until now and we want to pick ourselves up, prepare for next week and ensure that it is a quick turnaround.
“We have to use the hurt of this display and result. We have to use it as a driver and to create that desire within yourself.”
