Hearts 2-1 Rangers

Findlay (38′)  Shankland (42′)  Chermiti (90+5′)

Hearts produced a powerful first-half performance to hand Danny Rohl his first league defeat as Rangers manager, and extend their lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

The game started frantically, but neither side was able to test their opposing goalkeepers in a drab opening nine minutes.

That was until James Tavernier’s inswinging corner, which was prodded home by Bojan Miovski at the far post. The away supporters’ celebrations were eventually ruled out, with the Macedonian striker marginally offside from the set piece.

Despite the disallowed goal, Rangers had settled well in the Tynecastle cauldron, keen to extend their unbeaten domestic streak under Danny Rohl’s guidance.

Alexandros Kyziridis burst into life in the 17th minute. After collecting Michael Steinwender pass, he marauded infield from the right wing. His left-footed curler from 20 yards had pace, but narrowly curled wide of Jack Butland’s right post.

Rangers looked dangerous from another set piece moments later, Tavernier was the architect, but his looping free kick was headed wayward by the incoming Nicolas Raskin. Alexander Schwolow tipped Mikey Moore’s right-footed strike after beating his man moments later, as the visitors continued to pose a threat.

Hearts clicked into life shortly after. Top goalscorers Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland linked in the centre of the park, before releasing Kyziridis in an advanced area. His driven cross from the right had no takers, but it was the Jambos’ best move of the half so far.

Derek McInnes carved out the opening goal in the 37th minute. Braga linked with Kyziridis from a corner kick, whose delivery was powered home by the towering Stuart Findlay. The centre back has been a crucial component of the Jambos’ season, and his 5th league goal invigorated the home side.

The second goal arrived four minutes later, courtesy of their captain. Claudio Braga nodded through to Lawrence Shankland after another free-kick, who drilled past Jack Butland at his near post: a quickfire double, and another statement of intent from the league leaders.

The second half struggled to replicate the frenetic energy of the first 45, with clear-cut chances proving rare in the opening exchanges. Lawrence Shankland should have put the game to bed on the hour mark, but he could only sidefoot wide from inside the area after another mazy run from Kyziridis.

Rangers began to see more of the ball in advanced areas, yet they lacked the killer instinct required to test Schwolow truly. That frustration was epitomised in the 64th minute when Djeidi Gassama failed to connect with a teasing back-post cross, leaving the visitors searching for answers.

By committing men forward, Rangers inevitably left gaps for Hearts to exploit. Shankland looked certain to grab his second and Hearts’ third in the 68th minute following a lightning counter-attack, but Jack Butland reacted brilliantly to smother his right-footed strike. The Rangers keeper was called into action again moments later, safely gathering Frankie Kent’s tame header to keep his side in the contest.

Desperate for a breakthrough, Danny Rohl turned to his bench for the final 15 minutes, introducing Danilo for Miovski. The substitute nearly made an immediate impact from the edge of the box, seeing his deflected strike whistle past the post, before Emmanuel Fernandez flashed a header wide from the resulting corner.

As the clock ticked down, Hearts naturally retreated into a defensive shell, desperate to protect their clean sheet and two-goal cushion. Despite a late consolation strike from Youssef Chermiti, the damage was done, handing Rohl his first league defeat as Rangers manager.

The victory momentarily pushes the Jambos nine points clear of Celtic and preserves their unbeaten league record at Tynecastle. The high-stakes fixtures show no sign of slowing down for Hearts, ahead of a massive trip to Easter Road for the second Edinburgh Derby of the season.

Hearts: Schwolow 8 Steinwender 7 Kent 8 Findlay 9 Kingsley 8 Devlin 9 McEntee 8 Kyziridis 9 Magnusson 7 Braga 7 Shankland 9

Substitutes: Forrest 6 Baningime 6 Kerjota 4 McCart 4 Kabangu 2

Rangers: Butland 6 Aarons 6 Tavernier 5 Sterling 4 Fernandez 6 Meghoma 4 Barron 5 Raskin 5 Diomande 4 Moore 5 Miovski 4

Substitutes: Chermiti 4 Gassama 4 Danilo 3 Aasgaard 3