Philippe Clement Commends Jack Butland's Key Penalty Save In Rangers' Narrow Win Over Hibernian

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement commended Jack Butland for his crucial penalty save, which secured a 1-0 victory over Hibernian. Tom Lawrence scored the only goal in the 34th minute with a precise shot into the top-right corner. Just before halftime, Hibernian had a chance to equalise due to a handball by John Souttar, but Butland's impressive save kept Rangers ahead.

Despite some missed opportunities in the second half, including Cyriel Dessers' close-range attempt and Robin Propper's two misses, Rangers maintained their lead. Clement expressed frustration over the penalty decision but praised Butland's performance. "Jack's save was a massive moment," he told RangersTV. "I think Jack was happy as he has been less involved in the last few weeks - it's a good feeling to be important in those moments."

Clement highlighted the importance of the clean sheet and mentioned new additions like Jefte and Nana Kasanwirjo, along with the centre-back pairing of John Souttar and Robin Propper. He noted that Connor Barron also contributed defensively. "They haven't played together too long, but with the organisation, Jack hasn't had to make many saves," Clement said.

The team entered this match after a Europa League win against Malmo on Thursday. Despite not being at their best, Rangers achieved their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership win without conceding since February 2022. Clement acknowledged that the quick turnaround affected his players' performances.

"The first half we played well, and we deserved the lead, although we could have scored more," Clement added. "In the second half, it was more difficult; you could see the freshness going out of the legs of several players." He explained that returning to training late on Friday impacted their energy levels during Saturday's midday game.

Securing three points and another clean sheet was crucial for Rangers as they continue their strong run in both domestic and European competitions. The team's defensive organisation has been key to their recent success.