Hibs reach League Cup final after defeating Rangers 3-1 at Hampden

Hibernian have booked a place in the League Cup final thanks to a Martin Boyle 40 minute hat-trick that helped them beat Rangers 3-1 at Hampden.

Jack Ross will now bring his side back to Hampden to play Celtic in next month’s final but the Ibrox side’s long wait for a cup win continues with defeat in their first game since Steven Gerrard left to join Aston Villa.

Hibs stamped their authority on the game in a breathless first half that saw them race into a three goal lead as new Rangers manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst watched on from the stand.

Boyle put the Edinburgh side ahead on the 9th minute of the game when he scored from close range following a frantic start at the National Stadium.

A corner kick put the Rangers defence under pressure and the Australia international pounced to tap in.

Both defences were put under pressure during a relentless first half but it was Boyle again who put Hibs 2-0 up in the 20th minute after racing on to a through ball and putting it past Allan McGregor.

The 28-year-old forward continued to be a thorn in the side of the Rangers defence and he made it three after winning a penalty which he also converted in the 38th minute.

Van Bronckhorst: New Rangers manager was watching on from the stands. SNS Group

But just when the game was looking beyond Rangers, Scott Arfield handed them a life line around two minutes later when he marked his return to the starting line-up with a fine finish to make it 3-1 with five minutes to go to half-time.

The Ibrox side started the second half on the front foot as they looked to cut the deficit further but they were unable to take advantage of their momentum as Hibs defended as if their lives depended on it.

The interim management team decided to change things after the hour with Sakala first replacing Kent then Hagi was subbed on for goal scorer Arfield but it made little change to their fortunes.

Rangers haven’t won a cup tournament since 2011 and that wait will now run into 2022 at least when they have a shot at the Scottish Cup.