Hearts set for more drama despite 'scabby' Rangers goal as Tynecastle club acclaim record points total

Derek McInnes acclaimed Hearts’ highest top-flight points total after a euphoric win at Tynecastle Park effectively killed Rangers’ title challenge. The manager is anticipating some final-day drama against Celtic in Glasgow after seeing his team move three points clear atop the Premiership with three games remaining. Their current tally of 76 is two more than their previous highest of 74 from the 2005/06 campaign.

Hearts trailed 1-0 at half-time on Bank Holiday Monday after Dujon Sterling’s deflected opening goal for Rangers. However, an impassioned second-half performance combined with goals from Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland saw the hosts overhaul the deficit to win 2-1. McInnes was unhappy with his team’s first-half performance and the concession of what he termed a ‘scabby’ goal to the visitors which deflected into the net off Hearts defender Michael Steinwender.

“I thought we were out-fought, I thought we were out-run in the first half in terms of our duels,” he commented. “For all that, Rangers were good, but it's a scabby goal from a long throw. We need to deal with that first contact. We know James Tavernier would throw things in the box. They've got a bit of size about them, Rangers. They're not shy in using that size to go and cause problems with Chermiti, Djiga and Fernandez. There's a fair bulk there in presence.

“What the goal did do, as scabby as it was, it invigorated Rangers. It made them play. Better players all started to really enjoy the game. We took a step back. I didn't like us at all in the first half. It was a big half-time. I reminded the players they are top of the league for a reason. We had to dig it out. Thankfully, we managed to do that. All of a sudden, the difference between Blair Spittal and Islam Chesnokov has got to be mentioned, but it was more than that. Our back three started to take responsibility to take touches. Our midfield two, Beni Baningime and Marc Leonard started to get more touches, more than they got in the first half.

“Spittal started to slide off the back of people rather than running beyond people. It allowed us that extra passing and confidence with our work. We then started playing the gaps between Rangers shape. Because of that, the spaces become a bit more obvious. You start to then play passes into strikers and they're man-for-man against their back line, rather than Rangers always seem to outnumber us when we played the ball forward in the first half.

“We connected the game better. We played the game more in their half. We get the first goal. It’s a great strike from Kyzi [Alexandros Kyziridis] and a lovely finish for Kingsley. I actually felt, all of a sudden, the momentum shifted. It reminded the players that it's not easy to put 90-minute performances in, but we needed a big 45. Thankfully, our 45 had far more impact than what Rangers had in the first half.”

McInnes stressed he does not consider Rangers out of the title race despite the Ibrox club sitting seven points behind leaders Hearts. “I'd never say that. Rangers are capable of winning the next three games. The onus is on us to still win games,” he said. “Of course I wouldn't say that. I think it makes it difficult, but I wouldn't be giving it up if I was in their position and nor should they. Every team has got something to play for.

“The results yesterday, Saturday and Sunday, Hibs, Falkirk and Motherwell have all got work to do as well to achieve what they want. There's no straightforward games as today played out. Credit to the players. They've dug that out. We asked the question to Rangers and we were far more ourselves. I was annoyed with a lot of what we had in the first half. It's understandable, maybe, given the enormity of the situation, but thankfully the secon- half performance was far more like what we'd been all season.”

McInnes explained why he expects the race for first place to go down to the last game. “I'm preparing for that. I think we have to think that way. It's a big week now - we've got three games in a week,” he pointed out. “We've got to dust ourselves down and tomorrow see how we go in terms of how the lads are feeling. I know I've said it before, hopefully we can get Cammy Devlin and Harry Milne back for Saturday.

“It's not me being mischievous or being clever. We genuinely thought that we would have a chance to get one of them today. They were in earlier at the training ground doing a bit of work, so hopefully we can get one of them back or maybe two of them for the weekend. Saturday will deserve full attention again. We're in a good position, but we're only in a good position if we continue to win games.”

Hearts know their destiny is in their own hands. If they win their next three games, they are champions for the first time in 1960. “If we play in the manner we did in the second half, then we're difficult to stop,” said McInnes. “But if we play in the manner we did in the first half, then we're susceptible to losing games.

“Seventy-six points for a Hearts team is a remarkable number with three games to go. I'm so proud of what the players have given us. It’s our record points tally. It's good that you've come from behind because you know it's under the bonnet, you know it's there. But if we can't keep doing that, I wouldn't have thought we were going to get the outcome that we want.

“We now have a tough game at Motherwell, then another home game [against Falkirk]. But I'm prepared that if it goes to the last game, we're fine, we'll deal with it. Obviously, next weekend we play before Rangers and Celtic, but it's another pivotal weekend. It’s so exciting for Scottish football, so exciting for our club to be where we are and part of this. But like I said a few weeks back, I'm not here to get a pat on the back for good old Hearts putting up a fight. It's way beyond that now. We've got to try and go and win it now.”