Rangers show their quality to edge out Hearts in titanic tussle
Moments of magic from Morelos and Aribo enough to get Van Bronckhorst’s men over the line in the capital
T0 2
WO goals earned Rangers three points. The story of this Tynecastle tussle is more complex, and the ramifications more significant, than those facts.
This was a statement of intent victory for Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The Dutchman is now six games unbeaten as manager and another potentially difficult examination on the road has been overcome.
This fixture had it all.
There were moments of brilliance, others of madness. The goals were instances of quality, while a late red card rounded off the spectacle as first beat third in the cinch Premiership.
Livingston, Hibernian and now Hearts have been overcome away from Ibrox. Pittodrie and Parkhead still await for the champions, but they now have a run of home fixtures that give them the opportunity to build some real momentum in the top-flight title race.
Goals from Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo proved enough to see off Robbie Neilson’s side but the margin of victory should, and could, have been greater. On the flip side, this one could easily have seen the champions suffer their first setback under Van Bronckhorst.
Hearts will produce worse performances than this and win games this season. Indeed, they will create fewer chances and score a couple of times.
This wasn’t their afternoon but it was one that belonged to Rangers, and deservedly so. The visitors got the rewards they merited and that they desired.
The attacking line-up from Van Bronckhorst was a sign of intent. Two goals in four minutes was proof of the theory in action as Rangers stormed clear during a captivating first half.
Hearts would end it wondering how they were trailing and heading for defeat. In terms of the chances, it was the hosts who were ahead.
The scoreboard was, as always, the most important statistic, though, and Rangers had Morelos and Aribo to thank for ensuring they dominated in that regard.
By the time Morelos opened the scoring after just minutes, Hearts had already passed up their first clear chance of the afternoon. It was one of several they carved out with no reward.
A long ball from John Souttar exposed Connor Goldson and Liam Boyce latched onto it. He only had Allan McGregor to beat, but his chip was superbly tipped over by the Rangers keeper.
That particular duel was a theme of the afternoon. Boyce would fire just wide of target to begin a spell when Peter Haring and Josh Ginnelly also tried their luck from distance, while McGregor saved smartly at the near post after Boyce evaded Calvin Bassey.
Hearts would end the half in the ascendancy and that would have been a source of concern for Van Bronckhorst. His side looked likely to add to their tally, however, and that would have given him confidence for the second period.
The front three of Morelos, Ryan Kent and Fashion
Sakala caused Hearts real problems. With Aribo also coming to the fore, as he has done for some time, Rangers carried threats from all angles, and of different varieties.
Each one of Van Bronckhorst’s forward line was involved in the opening goal. Kent was direct down the left and his cross found Sakala at the back post.
Morelos assumed a poacher’s position in between the sticks and he was smartly picked out by the Zambian. The finish from there was clinical.
It was a moment that Morelos clearly revelled in. Hearts fans reacted with fury at his emotional celebrations and he must have been close to picking up a booking but referee Nick Walsh erred on the side of caution and sense as the small away contingent savoured the strike. Rangers had done the hard bit. They had weathered the early Hearts storm and earned themselves the lead.
Now they had to add to it. When they did, there was more than a touch of class about it as Goldson and Aribo combined to cut the Jambos open in such simple yet effective fashion.
The pick-out from Goldson was excellent as he fired a long ball from his own half into Hearts’ territory. There was still plenty for Aribo to do, but he would bring it down in wonderful fashion.
The touch was sublime.
The finish was emphatic as Gordon was beaten on the angle and Rangers had the second goal that give them breathing space for the inevitable Hearts riposte that followed.
It wasn’t one that would be rewarded before the interval. As the hosts piled forward in search of a way back into it, Rangers were guilty of squandering promising
positions that should have seen them end this intriguing encounter as a contest.
As it was, this was still very much a live one. Hearts picked up where they left off after the break, but the goal didn’t come as Tynecastle became increasingly animated.
McGregor saved well from Gary Mackay-Steven and Barrie McKay curled one wide. In between, Bassey’s block from a Ginnelly cross somehow came back off the bar and clear as the home crowd had to retake their seats after rising to celebrate.
It was soon Rangers’ turn to spurn a succession of chances as Gordon saved smartly from Arfield and Sakala. After he did so again to deny Morelos, Arfield skewed wide with the goal gaping after the Colombian kept the play alive.
At the other end, Boyce was again to blame as he ballooned an effort over the bar from close range. The clock was now becoming Hearts’ biggest enemy.
With 20 minutes remaining, they still had a shot at salvaging something and Stephen Kingsley rattled the woodwork from distance. It remained 2-0, but it was hard to fathom how.
A red card for Ginnelly
– the forward picking up a yellow card for his part in a touchline scuffle – ended Hearts’ chances. In reality, their profligacy had been their biggest issue.
That will be a concern for Rangers too, but their moments of brilliance had ultimately won them the game and they too can point to the chances created as proof of their worthiness at this victory.
There was plenty for the supporter, the purist and the casual observer to pick out of this one but it was Van Bronckhorst who will take the most positives.
Once again, Rangers got what they wanted and what they needed. That is the most important habit of them all for the champions.