Hearts and Rangers met again at Tynecastle after their last league match concluded in a thrilling 3-3 draw. This time, both sides played to a tense 0-0 stalemate, with Hearts demonstrating growth in their performance compared to the previous encounter.
In a match that saw Hearts secure a last-minute equalizer through Kyosuke Tagawa in May, the hosts were unfortunate not to claim victory against the visitors. Home coach Steven Naismith extended Hearts’ unbeaten home run to 12 matches, while Rangers’ manager Philippe Clement may feel content with a point that keeps his team unbeaten against Hearts in their last 16 meetings.
The draw provides an immediate opportunity for champions Celtic to move two points clear of their rivals when they host Kilmarnock on Sunday, adding to the stakes of the match.
Despite Rangers arriving in the capital looking vulnerable due to pre-season issues, they faced an immediate test when Lawrence Shankland—a striker linked to Rangers—forced a save from Jack Butland within the first two minutes. The early implications set the tone, with James Penrice challenging Butland again and Gerald Taylor’s effort deflected just wide.
As the first half progressed, Rangers began finding their rhythm. Connor Barron, the only summer signing to start for the visitors, had his low shot turned wide by Zander Clark, and Cyriel Dessers flicked a shot into the roof of the net.
In a tense second half, Dessers struck the bar before a powerful volley from Tom Lawrence forced another save from Clark. Shankland nearly sneaked a low shot past Butland, while James Tavernier came close to scoring an own goal, but neither side managed to break the deadlock.
Hearts’ Strong Showing
Hearts were active in the summer transfer market and welcomed midfielder Malachi Boateng from Crystal Palace just hours before kickoff. They started strong against Rangers and, despite the visitors’ improved performance in the second half, the hosts demonstrated resilience and control, especially in the closing moments.
Taylor was a standout performer for Hearts, consistently pressuring the opposition before Oscar Cortes—on loan from Lens—left the pitch injured. New signings Penrice and Dhanda also made an impact during their debuts, giving Hearts fans plenty of reasons for optimism despite not securing an opening-day victory for the first time in four years.
Rangers’ Challenges
Clement has acknowledged that his squad is undergoing a significant rebuild, evidenced by the lack of new faces in the starting lineup at Tynecastle. Despite that, Barron looked competent on his debut, and Czech winger Vaclav Cerny displayed potential in a late appearance.
Clement recognized the importance of not losing ground, saying, “I’m never content with a point because I always want to win, but it’s a fair result in the end.” He expressed disappointment in the team’s first-half performance but felt they responded positively after halftime adjustments.
What They Said
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith reflected on the match: “It was an entertaining game despite being 0-0. There will be headlines about Rangers dropping points, which I understand, but a lot of that was due to us. I’m slightly disappointed we didn’t get the goal we deserved, but there was a lot to like about us.”
Rangers manager Philippe Clement noted, “We didn’t play a good first half, especially in the first half-hour. I expected us to be braver in both duels and possession, but we reacted well after addressing things at halftime.”
Both teams will look to build on their performances as the season progresses, with heartening signs for Hearts and ongoing challenges for Rangers.
Credit: BBC Sport
