Stuart Findlay headed Hearts into the lead against Rangers at Tynecastle, a moment to savour, and, after securing the 2-1 victory, the delighted defender summed up the result saying: “Satisfied.”
The 30-year-old added: “Rangers have been slowly chipping away and we knew it would be a really difficult game so we were under no illusions about how hard it was going to be.
“We weathered the first ten minutes or so, and they were the better side to start with, but we did get our moments.”
His header hit the back of the Rangers net in 38 minutes and Lawrence Shankland followed with his strike four minutes later.
Glasgow-born Findlay said: “I did not feel they (Rangers) put us under too much pressure second-half and we got the three points.”
The mentality in the squad and the club is that Hearts now thrive in big games, and he added: “To beat Celtic home and way and to beat Rangers home and away is not easy to do and it is a testament to the boys (in the dressing-room) and the management that we have been able to do that. We believe in ourselves.”
The ex-Kilmarnock player declined to say if the result had “killed off” Rangers as a title challengers as the Ibrox side now slip 12 points behind the pace-setting Men in Maroon who have 41 points from 18 starts. Fourth-placed Rangers have played a game less in the William Hill Premiership.
Findlay said: “We are not at Christmas yet, we are in a good position, it was (v Rangers) a big game to win at home, it was three points on the board, and, in terms of writing people off, that’s not for us to do. Our job is to keep winning games.
“We look forward to trying to beat Hibs next and, if we beat them, it will be just as important as beating Rangers was.
“It is three points at a very early stage in the league, but it is a massive three points and that’s not to be denied.”
SMILES BETTER: Stuart Findlay (centre) shares a joke with colleagues. Picture Nigel Duncan
