Hearts boosted their hopes of winning the Scottish Premiership title with a 2-1 win over Rangers at Tynecastle Park.
Goals from Stuart Findlay and Lawrence Shankland also ended Danny Rolle’s unbeaten league run at Rangers since replacing Russell Martin in October.
For Kris Boyd, it was a performance befitting a team that is “all in” to win the Premiership.
Rangers were looking to reignite their title hopes before their opener was ruled out for offside. James Tavernier’s corner kick was met by Emmanuel Fernandes and turned towards goal, but despite being in an offside position, the ambitious Bojan Miovski smashed it home at the back post.
Rangers’ seemingly wild start not only inspired the home side, but they then regained even greater momentum. The Jambos scored the first goal from their own set piece. A one-two between Kyzydris and Braga created some space, and when Braga delivered a cross, Findlay ran in to take the lead.
Hearts found their second goal within five minutes. Findlay’s long ball was deflected by McEntee towards Bulaga, who nodded into Shankland’s pass. Without needing to be invited and despite a tough angle, the Captain drilled home and defeated Jack Butland.
Shankland could have scored a hat-trick of his own that day. He missed two clear chances in the second half, in one he was placed wide and in the other Butland easily denied a one-on-one.
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Hearts scored two goals late in the second half.
However, Hearts’ first-half performance was enough to ensure Youssef Cermiti’s stoppage-time goal did not threaten victory. Victory for Hearts means they become the first team since Dundee in 1985 to win four consecutive Old Firm games.
Derek McInnes’ side also suffered Rangers’ first league defeat on the road since Boxing Day in 2024, leaving them top of the table at Christmas for the first time since 1991. Only once in the past 13 years has a team at the top of the Christmas League failed to win the Premiership.
Hearts are 12 points clear of Rangers and will be looking to play Celtic at Aberdeen to ensure they remain nine points clear of the Hoops even if they lose.
Boyd: Rangers can’t do it anymore |My heart is going all the way
Chris Boyd of Sky Sports:
“If you look at this Hearts team, they know what they’re doing. Shankland was outstanding. It’s unbelievable that he didn’t end up at Rangers in the summer, and he showed once again today what a good player he is. The other two guys next to him are a threat all day long.”
“This Hearts team are reluctant to be shaken up by other teams because Rangers and Celtic have dominated this league for too long, but here they are and here they are. They are going to go all the way and Rangers got out of there and can forget about it because it’s over. 12 points is too many to take back.
“Celtic are having a great afternoon at the moment. It’s not all rosy in Glasgow’s East End at the moment. If Hearts can take advantage of that, they could be favorites for the title right now.”
Sutton: Hearts were great – what a job McInnes did
Chris Sutton of Sky Sports:
“This Hearts team was great in every department, they had strength and depth.
“Maybe they’re relying too much on their front three in terms of creativity, but Derek McInnes, who’s the top scorer in the league, has done a great job.”
McInnes: We’re exactly where we want to be.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes:
“We’re exactly where we want to be. I told the players that. We put that demand on ourselves to make sure we got to the in-cast.”
“If it’s not incast, it’s going to be about improving performance and trying to get positive results.
I think the support looks at how the players work for the club and how they work for their respective results. However, there are some good and talented players here as well.
“So, we’ve had a little bit of everything, but I’m just happy with how our guys have handled every game. It’s been really fun to work with them day in and day out. And we’re just dealing seriously as the games go. So, I’m not surprised. Like you said, we expected us to win today, but we expected it to be tough, and it’s been difficult.”
Roll: Hearts are the best team we’ve played.
Rangers manager Danny Rohr:
“I’m not happy with the result, it’s disappointing. I think it was a great game until the first goal we conceded. We scored after a set piece, but then it was offside. I think the story was there. What we felt in the stadium after the goal was right. Then we conceded two goals right away against a team that is good at set pieces. It shouldn’t have happened like this.”
“I think this was for me because I’m here and it’s the best team we’ve played and this is where we want to go. I think I’ve said it many times, it’s about steps, there’s going to be some lateral steps as well, more than forwards, and today It was probably more of a lateral step than the forwards. This is something we have to improve on as a group, but also as individuals. If we do that, we have a chance to win games like this.” ”
