Hearts earn point from Rangers at Tynecastle
Heart of Midlothian 1 Rangers 1
Ladbrokes Premiership – Sunday 20th October
2019 – Tynecastle Park
Hearts
earned a point from league leaders Rangers after a scrappy Ladbrokes Premiership
encounter at Tynecastle on Sunday. Ryotaro Meshino gave the hosts an early lead
before Morelos equalised for Rangers just before half-time.
Having
not won a league game at Tynecastle since March, Hearts have been criticised
for recent displays, particularly in Gorgie. Manager Craig Levein has borne the
brunt of the fans dissatisfaction and some fans are even turning on owner Ann
Budge. Indeed, there was a banner in the new main stand proclaiming ‘Budge and
Levein Have Stolen Our Club’ a clear indication of the unhappiness of some of
the home support.
As
is customary, Levein made three changes from the team that lost to Kilmarnock in
the last game a fortnight ago before the international break. Striker Uche
Ikpeazu returned and there were surprise inclusions for Oliver Bozanic and Aidy
White. The injured Loic Damour missed out while Andy Irving and Clevid Dikamona
moved to the substitute’s’ bench. Dikamona will feel particularly hard done by
as he impressed against Killie and it was difficult to fathom why he had been
left out against Rangers.
Tynecastle
was packed for the Sunday lunchtime kick-off and the Maroon Army didn’t have
long to wait to rise to their feet. Just a couple of minutes in, Sean Clare
crossed from the right, Uche Ikpeazu rose above everyone to head his cross goalward
and the ball smacked off the crossbar.
That
set the tone for a tumultuous start from the home side and in the sixth minute
they took the lead. A mistake from
Tavernier allowed Jake Mulraney to take advantage and while his shot on goal
was saved by keeper McGregor the ball fell to Ryotaro Meshino who dinked the ball
over the Rangers goalie and into the net.
It
was the perfect if somewhat unexpected start for Hearts but it’s fair to say
the game was hampered thereafter by some meaty challenges from both sides and
an over officious referee who gave some bizarre decisions for both sides. Then
again, Kevin Clancy has history in this respect.
Just
after half an hour Rangers nearly equalised when a diving header from Davis
went just wide and one began to get the feeling this might finally be Hearts day.
However, that feeling was diluted seven minutes before half-time when Rangers
equalised. Aaron Hickey gave away a needless corner and from the cross Morelos
was given far too much space to ram the ball home to make it 1-1. The Columbian
striker then needlessly ran towards the Hearts fans in the Gorgie Stand. Hearts
are investigating alleged racist abuse towards the player and have said they
will ban any fan who is found guilty of racist behaviour.
The
second half was an end-to-end affair, but it has to be said the quality of
football on display was poor. Crunching tackles and curious referring decisions
didn’t help. Hearts injury jinx was lurking, however, and Aidy White departed
the scene just four minutes into the second half, being replaced by Jamie
Brandon. With ten minutes left Jake Mulraney hobbled off with what looked like
a knee injury. The former Inverness Caledonian Thistle player was replaced by
Andy Irving and Hearts await the result of this latest injury.
In
injury time, Hearts had a chance to take all three points when Oliver Bozanic’s
long throw into the Rangers penalty box found the head of captain Christophe Berra but
the skipper’s header was too direct towards Rangers keeper McGregor.
In
the end a point apiece was about the right result and means Hearts move above Hibernian
in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.
After
the game Craig Levein had mixed emotions. He told the official Hearts website:
“I’m
pleased but a little bit irritated about the way we lost the goal – at a set
piece. But, the commitment, the effort, the competitive edge was there, and it
was very apparent, which we needed,” said the Hearts boss.
“The
test for us now is to find that every single week. There’s no point in doing
that today, then next week not doing ourselves justice.”
“I
feel that it was important today that we showed our supporters that we’re
fighting and desperate to do well just as they are.”
Hearts: Pereira, Smith, White
(Brandon, 49′), Berra, Bozanic, Clare, Mulraney (Irving, 80′), Whelan, Ikpeazu,
Hickey, Meshino (MacLean, 77′).
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier,
Goldson, Davis, Ojo (Kent, 62′), Aribo, Kamara, Katic, Morelos (Defoe, 81′),
Barisic, Arfield (Stewart, 75′).
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Attendance: 17,573
Top man: Michael Smith – a couple of misplaced passes aside, the Northern Irishman was immense yet again today.