Rangers 4-2 Hearts: Report and player ratings, another injury, questionable defending, leaders' lead cut

Rangers cut Hearts’ advantage at the top of the William Hill Premiership with a 4-2 victory at Ibrox. Despite leading twice in the first half, the Edinburgh side were overhauled and could only lament some of their defending during the game. They remain league-leaders but are now only two points ahead of Rangers following a compelling and open game in Glasgow.

Marc Leonard opened the scoring for the away side before Michael Steinwender’s own-goal equaliser. Claudio Braga then restored the lead, but Youssef Chermiti levelled again for a half-time scoreline of 2-2. In a breathtaking encounter throughout, Chermiti headed Rangers ahead for the first time in the second half, and then stroked the fourth following a late counter-attack to claim his hat-trick.

With Hearts on 57 points and Rangers now on 55, Celtic are lurking on 54 with a game in hand in what is the tightest Scottish league title race in years. This was a match which could have gone either way in truth. Hearts were the better team in the opening 45 minutes, although the home side were far stronger in the second half and dominated more of the ball. The Tynecastle side played their part and troubled the Rangers rearguard whenever they attacked, but they also looked vulnerable themselves at the opposite end. It was a game nobody wanted to take their eyes off, for the pace never dropped.

Record Hearts signing Eduardo Ageu made his first start for the club following presistent injuries since his arrival last August. He took up an attacking midfield berth behind striker Claudio Braga. Rangers started four recent signings in the shape of striker Ryan Naderi, winger Andreas Skov Olsen, defender Tuur Rommens and midfielder Tochi Chukwuani. After some abseiling marines to mark Armed Forces Day, the game kicked off inside a noisy Ibrox Stadium.

Hearts won both previous meetings between these clubs this season, but they lost right-back Oisin McEntee on 12 minutes after an awkward fall left him clutching his upper right arm. Michael Steinwender took over. Those in maroon weren’t fazed and regrouped to open the scoring four minutes later. Rangers centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez played an inexplicable loose pass into midfield which Leonard seized midway inside the opposition half. As Rangers defenders scrambled to recover, Leonard advanced and exchanged passes with Braga before a smart finish high into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

That 1-0 advantage should have helped the Tynecastle side settle. However, it took Rangers only four minutes to restore parity. Beni Baningime’s wayward pass in midfield allowed the home team to build an attack down the left. From Rommens’ deep cross, Chermiti’s header at the back post was beaten away by Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow. Mikey Moore volleyed the rebound off the crossbar. As the ball dropped, Naderi arrived ready to force it into the next but Steinwender’s sliced clearance high into the rigging meant he didn’t need to bother.

Hearts were undaunted again. They withstood a few moments of pressure and promptly retook the lead on 29 minutes. Braga’s header found Ageu running through, he laid the ball off to Steinwender for a swinging cross into the penalty box. Braga’s jump beat John Souttar in the air and the Portuguese nodded a quite exquisite header against the balance of goalkeeper Jack Butland and down into the corner of the Rangers net.

This end-to-end affair had another goal to offer before the interval, though. A Hearts counter-attack ended and Rangers broke forward for Naderi to feed Chermiti. The striker enjoyed a break of the ball following Craig Halkett’s sliding challenge and didn’t waste the opportunity to fire a second equaliser into Schwolow’s net. This was anybody’s game with a half-time scoreline of 2-2 and both teams conceding cheap goals.

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes changed his team’s formation to 3-4-3 during the interval as Landry Kabore and Jordi Altena were intoduced as substitutes. It would be safe to assume that was designed to bring more defensive solidity, with Harry Milne and Altena extra attacking outlets. However, it was Rangers who seized the next opportunity to score and take a 3-2 lead. Skov Olsen found space on the right for a front-post cross which the unmarked Chermiti met flush on the forehead to power the ball past Schwolow.

Hearts were then chasing the game having twice been in the ascendancy in the opening 45 minutes. They probed when possible hoping to score a third goal, but had to be mindful of losing a fourth at the same time. McInnes made various substitutions with Tomas Magnusson and Rogers Mato introduced late on, but the visitors could not prise a point. In the dying embers of the match, Chermiti struck his team’s fourth goal on the break after an incisive run by substitute Djeidi Gassama.

Here are the Hearts player ratings from Ibrox: