Hibs' astonishing 47-year Hampden record vs Rangers sets up classic

Granted the club's Scottish Premiership form leaves plenty to be desired, but their semi-final victory over fierce rivals Hearts on Sunday afternoon highlighted the fighting spirit still within the camp.

Martin Boyle and Jamie McGrath's goals cancelled out Claudio Braga's early opener and set up the showpiece finale at Hampden Park on December 13. And it turns out Hibs have more to be excited and confident about given their history against the Light Blues at the national stadium.

Marink Reedijk's squad will square off against Derek McInnes' charges and they will do so with the bit between their teeth in the competition. But they also have history on their side.

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Hibs have astonishingly not been beaten by Rangers at Hampden in a whopping 47 years.

The last time the Glasgow outfit came out on top was at the 1979 Scottish Cup final which took three attempts following a goalless draw in the initial final and then another in the replay. Rangers would win the third contest 3-2.

Since that period the two clubs have faced off four more times at Hampden and the Leith side have come out on top each time.

First came in the League Cup semi-final of 1991 when Keith Wright netted the winner inside the first 30 minutes. Then in 2004 Hibs progressed to the final of the same competition with a penalty shootout victory over their opponents following a 1-1 draw after extra-time. Stephen Dobbie had levelled after Michael Mols had opened the scoring for Gers during normal time.

The iconic 2016 Scottish Cup Final was next when former defender and then head coach David Gray bulleted home the winning header after an exhausting 3-2 victory for Hibs.

And in 2021 Hibs continued their reign of Hampden dominance over Rangers when they knocked them out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage again. Boyle fired in a stunning first-half hattrick before Scott Arfield nicked a consolation.

It's a staggering statistic and one Hibs will be desperate to add to when the final rolls around next month.