Philippe Clement bagged a crucial win as the under-fire Rangers boss bounced back from his Scottish Cup nightmare with a victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.
But he had more than a little helping hand from hosts Hearts with TWO own goals from Jamie McCart and an inspired display by keeper Jack Butland. Vaclav Cerny was also on target, while Michael Steinwender struck for the Jambos on his home debut.
It had been one hell of a week for Belgian Clement with the pressure at its peak after that shock Queen’s Park defeat at Ibrox last Sunday. Supporters, pundits and ex-pros all made their feelings known in the wake of the match last weekend but the the beleaguered boss faced the media on Friday and was back in the dugout in Gorgie.
The result brings the gap to Celtic back down to 13 points and it was a much-needed win for the Light Blues. They will be hoping they can now put a run of form and results together after this Tynecastle triumph. It was almost the perfect start for Rangers with John Souttar slotting beyond Craig Gordon. However, the goal was correctly ruled out for offside following a VAR check. It was a training ground move from the visitors that was inches away from paying off.
Hearts’ first chance came on the break as a nice move from the home side found its way to Elton Kabangu, but his effort was well saved from Butland in the Rangers goal. It proved crucial as just a few minutes later, the visitors grabbed the lead. Again, a short corner was well worked between James Tavernier, Vaclac Cerny and Mohamed Diomande. The ball was eventually played into the box to Ianis Hagi and his low driven cross was pushed out by Craig Gordon and it bounced off Jamie McCart and into the back of the net with 20 on the clock.
Kabangu had a huge chance to level within seconds after a stunning ball from young James Wilson. He raced through on goal but his low effort was once again turned behind by Butland as he kept the striker out once more. Again, it was Kabangu vs Butland and the keeper produced a top class finger tip save to keep the visitors ahead midway through the first half.
On the half hour mark, Lawrence Shankland was next to test the Rangers keeper who came to the rescue once again. The pace and dip on the ball made it a tricky one to deal with, but it was another top save as he pushed it over the bar with two hands. Rangers’ first attempt on goal – despite having the lead – came on 35 minutes but it was a tame effort from Nico Raskin. The second quickly followed but Gordon denied Cerny with his legs. He then made another top reaction save to deny another potential own goal.
Just four minutes into the second half, the Jambos levelled. It was a perfect routine from a corner with James Penrice’s cross bulleted home by new recruit Michael Steinwender. On the hour Cerny’s eyes bulged as a ball dropped to him just inside the box as he attempted to steer the ball to Gordon’s far post, but it just missed the target. But he wouldn’t be denied as one minute later a counter-attack ended at his feet and he blasted home.
Cyriel Dessers – just one for Tom Lawrence – played a major role as Rangers grabbed a third. Hagi’s clipped ball into his path caught McCart on the wrong side of the striker and while tussling with the hitman, he knocked the ball past his own keeper for a second own goal of the game and gave Clement and Co that real cushion they desired. Shankland had a late chance from a central free-kick but his powerful effort was deflected past Butland’s left post.
Crucial win for Clement but not all is what it seems
It’s been the worst week of his Ibrox tenure and Philippe Clement will be glad it has been and gone. The uproar from the shock Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park is still rumbling on behind the scenes with fans still raging. But it was back to business on the park for the Belgian and again it is one that throw up more questions than answers.
Performance wise, it wasn’t vintage with the hosts creating a number of chances with a Jack Butland sized wall keeping them at bay. It felt a spark was missing in the first 45 with a number of slack passes and one notable one – similar to last weekend – came from a short free-kick was played straight out the park.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Hearts levelling and looking most likely. But good fortune landed in the laps of the visitors not once, but twice with Vaclav Cerny profiting after Hamza Igamane’s initial effort was blocked into his path and he made no mistake as he smashed home. McCart’s second own goal of the game made sure the points would head back to Glasgow. The main positive for Clement will be the three points – but plenty more to do.
McCart suffers day to forget
Look away now Jamie McCart. Hearts new defender was on target TWICE in this one. Just unfortunately for him at the wrong end.
The first one he was helpless to be fair as Craig Gordon pushed a cross onto him and into the back of the net before a tussle with Cyriel Dessers after a ball over the top ended with him poking the ball beyond his own goalkeeper as he attempted to defend the situation.
A nightmare afternoon for any defender. But the save and grace for him is he avoided an unwanted piece of history attached to his name as his own goal efforts ended at two. Unlike New Zealand defender Meikayla Moore who put through her own net THREE times in an international clash with the USA just shy of three years ago.
Kabangu vs Butland
This turned into quite the battle throughout the contest at Tynecastle. The winner on the day was Jack Butland who produced a number of big saves to deny the on loan striker. He’s impressed since arriving in Gorgie but he will be disappointed to not have got on the scoresheet in the first half.
He had FOUR huge opportunities with Butland equal to them all. The third save in particular at the midway point of the half was a standout with the Ibrox No1 getting down low to push the ball wide with a stunning finger tip save.
He wasn’t the only one to test the Rangers keeper with Lawrence Shankland also seeing a big save produced from the opposition goalkeeper. But he stood no chance from Steinwender’s header from a super James Penrice corner.