Hearts storm back to stun Rangers

Heart of Midlothian 2 Rangers 1

Ladbrokes Premiership – Sunday 26^th January
2020 – Tynecastle

It
was just like old times at Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon as Hearts produced
their best performance of a troubled season to come from behind to defeat
Rangers and secure three vitally important points in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

After
going behind at the beginning of the second half the Jambos roared back and
goals from Steven Naismith and debutant Liam Boyce secured Hearts first league
win in ten games.

Hearts
boss Daniel Stendel made five changes from the team that battled to a goalless
draw against Ross County on Wednesday evening and there were debuts for two of
Hearts new signings, Liam Boyce and Toby Sibbick.

Hearts
began the game in determined manner and had Rangers pinned in their own half in
the opening few minutes. Despite this, only a low shot from Liam Boyce called
Rangers keeper McGregor into action.

The
visitors looked dangerous on the break and it seemed Hearts high pressing game
was proving to be a bit of a struggle for John Souttar who was caught by the
Rangers forwards on more than one occasion. Kent wasted a great opportunity to
open the scoring for Steven Gerrard’s team, but he blazed his shot high into
the Gorgie Stand.

Hearts
new striker Boyce thought he had opened his Tynecastle account when he fired
the ball past McGregor, but the assistant referee had adjudged the Northern
Irishman to be offside.

Rangers
then spurned another glorious chance when Aribo was through on goal due to more
slack play from the Hearts defence but Aidy White saved the day with a superb
tackle.

Half
time arrived with the game goalless but if the Hearts support had been encouraged
by an impressive first half performance from their team they must have felt a
feeling of déjà vu at the beginning of the second half when Rangers took the
lead. Again, John Souttar was caught out by Rangers striker Defoe who set up
Kent. He passed to Barisic whose cross was laid back by Aribo for Kent to fire
home. Three sides of Tynecastle was stunned and for a ten-minute spell it
looked like Rangers would take command. However, under Daniel Stendel, Hearts
are made of sterner stuff these days.

Twelve
minutes into the second half Hearts produced a superb equaliser. Craig Halkett
did well to win the ball and set up Liam Boyce. The new boy pulled the ball
back for Steven Naismith who curled a brilliant shot beyond keeper McGregor and
Hearts were on level terms.

Inspired
by a raucous home support Hearts sensed blood and went for the kill. Substitute
Conor Washington had a shot cleared off the goal line, but Rangers continued to
look dangerous on the counterattack.

With
seven minutes to go, Tynecastle roared to noise levels that might have been
heard all over the capital. Liam Boyce was struggling badly with cramp and was
signalling to the dug out that he ought to come off. However, Hearts had already
used all three substitutes, so the former Ross County striker had to carry on through
the pain barrier. But Hearts supporters were mighty glad he did.

Boyce
delivered a superb cross field pass to substitute Oliver Bozanic. The Australian
fired the ball into the Rangers penalty box only for it to be cleared – back to
Boyce. Despite his obvious discomfort, the striker showed superb composure to
control the ball, take a touch and fire it via a deflection beyond McGregor for
a sensational winner.

Tynecastle
acclaimed its new hero but, in truth all fourteen players were heroes with a
performance that defied the odds. Daniel Stendel’s influence is clearly beginning
to make its mark and there’s little doubt that Hearts would not have won this
game under his predecessor.

The
three unexpected points takes Hearts to within a point of Hamilton Academical
and three of St Mirren. But Stendel will know better than anyone that his team
need to maintain this level of performance. If they can defeat St Johnstone on
Saturday they will move off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership. As the saying
goes – the chase is on!

Hearts: Pereira, White (Bozanic, 46′), Souttar, Clare,
Naismith, Halkett, Moore (Washington, 59′), Boyce, Sibbick (Ikpeazu, 75′),
Irving, Henderson.

Rangers: McGregor, Goldson, Jack (Arfield, 46′), Defoe,
Davis, Kent, Flanagan (Polster, 46′), Aribo, Kamara (Ojo, 73′), Katic, Barisic.

Referee: Steven McLean

Attendance: 18,539

Top man: Sean Clare – the transformation
of this laddie has been remarkable