Jelavic strikes twice to earn victory

The Croatian striker's double maintains Ally McCoist's side's lead at the top of the SPL, as Pat Fenlon's first game in charge at Easter Road ends in defeat.Rangers secured a 2-0 away victory over Hibernian, as Nikica Jelavic’s second-half double ensured Pat Fenlon’s first game in charge at Easter Road ended in defeat.Fenlon named the same starting XI from the away trip to Motherwell that was abandoned due to floodlight failure last weekend, despite the visitors taking a 1-0 lead into half-time.Striker Garry O’Connor, who scored at Fir Park Stadium last Friday, partnered Leigh Griffiths up front, whilst Ivan Sproule, Isaiah Osbourne, David Wotherspoon and Lewis Stevenson lined up in midfield.For Rangers, Lee McCulloch returned to the side after missing last week’s 2-1 home win over Dunfermline, with Jelavic once again leading the line.The first opening of the game presented itself to the league leaders, after Gregg Wylde capitalised on Michael Hart’s loss of possession to send a dangerous cross in for Steven Whittaker, with Hibs midfielder Sproule doing well to put the defender under pressure as he looked to convert.Croatian forward Jelavic cut a lonely figure up front as he struggled to carve a role for himself in the first-half, with the majority of Rangers’ attacking threat coming from midfield in the shape of Steven Davis and the lively Wylde.The 26-year-old Davis peppered Graham Stack’s goalmouth early on, first with a cross-shot, before volleying wide of the target.The Northern Irishman was then on hand defensively, intervening well as fellow countryman Sproule looked to register on goal after latching on to a sublime pass from Osbourne that released him in behind the Rangers backline.In a half absent of any real attacking threat, Hibs striker Griffiths was handed a late chance after Lee Wallace failed to clear Sproule’s low cross from the left-hand side, yet the 21-year-old was unable to connect firmly as his effort tamely found its way into the grasp of goalkeeper Allan McGregor. The second period began much in the same vein as the first 45, with Rangers still unable to register a shot on goal as the hosts’ continued to hold their own. That was soon to change with the help of Hart, as the former Preston North End men tugged at the arm of Wallace as he broke into the box and in turn conceded a penalty.Up stepped Jelavic to place the ball just inside the right-hand post and beyond Hibs shot stopper Stack, as Ally McCoist’s men took the lead with their first real attempt of the afternoon.The striker was roused into life, and 10 minutes later Jelavic headed home Wylde’s corner to double his tally for the afternoon to give Rangers a 2-0 lead.Hibs attempted to reply and Paul Hanlon’s deflected cross looked to be looping over McGregor, but the goalkeeper did well to scramble back and hook the ball back from underneath the crossbar.Rangers, however, were able to hold on to their second-half lead as they maintain their place at the top of the SPL.