Dazzling Danilo strikes for Rangers as heroic Jack Butland ends clean sheet hoodoo – 5 talking points

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After 24 attempts Rangers finally kept the back door shut away from home. And the victory over Hibs at Easter Road could prove to be a huge step forward for Danny Rohl’s side. Gers haven’t kept a clean sheet on the road since December 8 last year. But they produced a gritty, gutsy performance in Leith to secure a vital three points in the Premiership. Brazilian striker Danilo grabbed the crucial winning goal after just five minutes with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box. Hibs put them under pressure in the second half, with Thibaut Klidje missing a gilt-edged chance. David Gray’s side thought they had earned themselves a point near the end when Junior Hoilett won a penalty after Connor Barron’s trip. But Rangers keeper Jack Butland produced a stunning save to deny Jamie McGrath and keep their clean sheet intact. Rohl took the acclaim of the away support at the end after two wins in a row took them up to third place in the league table. Here's five talking points from Easter Road: It’s still very early days in Rohl’s tenure as Rangers boss but the early signs are good under the German. It’s only been two league games but the two victories he’s picked up have been absolutely vital - especially this one. And it sets them up brilliantly for a semi-final at Hampden against Celtic on Sunday. It hasn’t just been the results against Kilmarnock and Hibs that have been impressive under Rohl, it’s been the manner of them. And the tactics he’s deployed to get them. Switching to a back 3 has been an inspired move and this new shape and system seems to suit these players far better. Crucially, the squad seems to be buying into it. At Easter Road, they worked harder than they have done all season. They were compact, together, defensively sound and dug in at the end when they had to hold on. The likes of Nasser Djiga and Connor Barron were superb, while Jack Butland proved his worth at the end with a penalty save. At the end, the away end were singing Rohl’s name. After a horrendous start to the campaign, they feel their club is finally back on track. You could argue that when you’re sixth in the table and have barely won a game in the league - it isn’t really the time for squad rotation. But despite being in the Rangers manager’s job for just over a week that didn’t seem to bother Rohl at Easter Road. Eyebrows were raised when the team-sheet dropped as the German left out skipper James Tavernier, as well as star man Djeidi Gassama, Mo Diomande, Thelo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski for the trip to Leith. Rohl obviously had one eye on Sunday’s Premiers Sports Cup semi-final tie with Celtic at Hampden. But it was still a huge gamble given Rangers’ form so far this season. To the new gaffer’s credit, the players who were given an opportunity put a shift in for him. They played with a bit of urgency, aggression and intensity - which they’ve been devoid of so far this season. Just a matter of weeks ago, Gers striker Danilo was struggling to make the match day squad under ex-boss Russell Martin. Following the arrivals of Miovski and Chermiti, the Brazilian was bombed out and most fans would have felt his time at Ibrox was finally up. But Rohl has seen enough in him to give Danilo a Rangers reprieve. He scored a terrific header on Sunday against Kilmarnock and he followed it up here with the opener. He produced an unerring finish early on from the edge of the box that gave his side a platform to build on before going off at half-time. You get the impression Danilo is the type of striker who needs an arm around the shoulder approach to perform at his best. Maybe Rohl is the manager to do it. At the start of the second half Hibs had the bit between their teeth as they desperately tried to get back into the game. And about eight minutes in they had a golden chance to equalise from close range. Miguel Chaiwa did brilliantly on the right side of the box and fizzed a ball across goal. It looked like the Hibees’ record signing Thibaut Klidje just had to tap it home from a couple of yards out - but it somehow struck his thigh and went wide of the target when it looked easier to score. Klidje has been in good form recently and would have expected to tuck the opportunity away. It was a pivotal moment in the game for Gray’s side because a leveller at that stage could have set them up to go and win it. Instead, Klidje’s miss - which had an xG of 0.9 - cost them dear with the front-man later hooked. Hibs just weren’t at their best in front of goal - highlighted by McGrath’s penalty miss late on. For a few years now Rangers have lacked a dominant midfield force, someone who can set their tempo and dictate play. They’ve also badly missed someone in their engine room with a bit of dig and tenacity. But last night Connor Barron filled that role superbly and was a key part of the victory for Rohl’s side. The young Scot hasn’t always been a fans’ favourite at Ibrox - or a first pick - for a couple of managers now. And obviously one swallow doesn’t make a summer. But Barron had arguably his best game in a Rangers jersey at Easter Road alongside Nico Raskin in the middle of the park as part of Rohl’s new 3-4-2-1 formation. He covered every blade of grass, not allowing Hibs’ midfielder to settle at any point in the night. The only blot on his copybook was the foul on Junior Hoilett after Tavernier’s slip that got Hibs their late missed penalty. But overall, Barron set the tone for Rangers’ performance and he’d have impressed his manager ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm semi-final.