Hearts 2-1 Rangers: Player ratings, Ibrox challenge killed, key men, super sub, tactical changes, title closer

Hearts allowed Rangers a goal of a start and still claimed three colossal points in the Premiership title race after a pulsating game at Tynecastle Park. The Edinburgh club are now three games, potentially less, from winning their first Scottish title in 66 years. An evening of character, grit and defiance earned them a huge victory and leaves Rangers all but out of the running for first place.

Dujon Sterling’s 23rd-minute opening goal gave the visitors a 1-0 half-time lead. Hearts mounted a storming recover after the break, Stephen Kingsley equalising on 54 minutes before Lawrence Shankland gave his team the lead 17 minutes later. This 2-1 result restores Hearts’ three-point lead ahead of Celtic at the top of the league table. It also effectively leaves those two clubs now fighting it out for the title with Rangers now seven points off the summit and three games left.

Kingsley enjoyed a superb game and was pivotal in both goals, with half-time substitute Blair Spittal again an influential figure for Hearts following his Edinburgh derby winner last weekend. Those in maroon played within themselves for much of the first half, but they were unstoppable when they got going in the second period. In addition to Kingsley and Spittal, Craig Halkett and Shankland were also vital to their team’s cause.

Bank Holiday sunshine splashed over Gorgie before kick-off as Hearts supporters filled local pubs preparing for their club’s biggest game in years. It’s not often you have all day to contemplate a match which could help inspire your club’s first league title in 66 years. Tynecastle was the optimum cauldron of noise for kick-off with thousands inside anticipating a seismic evening.

Craig Halkett should have out Hearts 1-0 ahead on 10 minutes, however he headed Marc Leonard’s free-kick over the crossbar. The home goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow then touched Nico Raskin’s high effort behind for a corner. Having survived Hearts’ high-tempo start, Rangers began growing in confidence and seized a precious lead on 23 minutes. James Tavernier’s long throw scuffed off Stuart Findlay’s head and landed for Sterling to strike from eight yards. His shot ricocheted off Michael Steinwender’s heel and spun over the helpless Schwolow into the net.

Hearts looked stunned, the visitors elated. After a change of formation from 3-4-1-2 to 4-4-2, Hearts remained rather subdued until the interval. Rangers, with Raskin pulling the strings, were making good use of their three-man central midfield against the Hearts pair Leonard and Beni Baningime. That allowed them to control proceedings and leave the hosts second best at that stage.

For the second half, Tynecastle coach Derek McInnes reverted to the 3-4-1-2 system he started with. Last week’s Edinburgh derby hero, Spittal, replaced Chesnokov and took up the advanced midfield role behind strikers Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga. Rangers remained in their 4-3-3 shape and seemed content to defend their lead as maroon shirts poured forward seeking an equaliser.

It arrived within 10 minutes of the restart. Alexandros Kyziridis darted inside for a left-footed shot which beat the Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland and rebounded off the far post. Kingsley was in place for an instinctive reaction as he side-footed the ball into the gaping net. The roar was in relief as much as celebration, but Hearts now had a platform to build on. Defender Michael Steinwender went down with a head injury which required bandaging on the hour mark.

As tensions increased, Findlay and Youssef Chermiti wrestled with one another before the Portuguese striker kicked out at his marker near the halfway line. Strangely, no action was taken for what could easily have been deemed serious foul play. Hearts were now the side with more authority. Kyziridis darted into the penalty area with a nutmeg and fired a shot from a tight angle which Butland held. Referee John Beaton’s decisions were frustrating home supporters with Rangers getting the benefit of several decisions.

Then, on 71 minutes, Shankland came alive having been quiet until that point. Spittal supplied Kingsley with a ball down the left, his cross deflected off Tavernier into Shankland’s path for a first-time, controlled strike with his left foot. The ball flew past Butland into the net, and Hearts were in dreamland.

Rangers weren’t finished, however. Substitute Thelo Aasgaard’s header rebounded off Schwolow’s crossbar on 77 minutes. Danny Rohl made a raft of substitutions hoping to force a leveller, but Hearts simply refused to give their opponents an inch. The final whistle sparked scenes of unbridled joy with another game ticked off on this quest for history in Gorgie.

Here are the Hearts player ratings from Tynecastle: