'Hard to make a legitimate case for Hearts' - Journalists' predictions for Rangers v Hearts
Mark Atkinson
Hearts' best hope here is that Rangers have left all their energy in Rotterdam, because if they haven't, they have the potential to run right over the top of a fragile Hearts team. The managerial situation cannot be helping the Tynecastle players and the squad - which, in my opinion, has plenty of quality - appear rudderless. Rangers probably won't skelp them, but it's impossible to envisage anything other than a home win. Prediction: Rangers 3-0 Hearts
Anthony Brown
Rangers are currently at their strongest since their financial implosion in the early part of the decade, while Hearts are at their lowest ebb since exiting administration five-and-a-half years ago. For most of the past three years, even when slightly more closely matched, Hearts have been unable to defeat Rangers. Aside from the fact football is an at-times illogical game capable of throwing up all sorts of unpredictable outcomes, it is hard to make any legitimate case for managerless Hearts improving their wretched recent record against the Ibrox side this weekend. Prediction: Rangers win
Craig Fowler
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Hide AdHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. What? If I don't laugh, I'll cry. Prediction: Rangers win.
Neil McGlade
Ibrox is a difficult venue to take anything from nine times out of ten. It looks an unassailable task for this disfunctional Hearts side on Sunday. Last weekend’s showing in the 3-0 defeat at Kilmarnock was nothing short of farcical. That said, the trip west is a free hit for the Jambos as no-one really expects anything other than a comfortable Rangers victory. With the goalscoring form of Alfredo Morelos, coupled with a leaky visiting defence, Rangers should win with plenty to spare. Prediction: Rangers win.
Patrick McPartlin
Even if Rangers do experience a bit of a European hangover from their fine display in Rotterdam, a quick glance at their unused subs - Joe Aribo, Brandon Barker, Greg Stewart plus a 13-minute cameo for Scott Arfield - suggests that, even if Steven Gerrard does shuffle his starting line-up, it will still be strong, lethal and more than capable of dealing with a Hearts team capable of putting five past St Mirren but equally adept at forgetting to turn up for a crucial 15 minutes last time out at Rugby Park. Rangers are strong at Ibrox and Hearts don't have a great record there - and I'm afraid there's nothing to suggest that will change this weekend. Prediction: Rangers win