12th. December 2021 Hearts 0 Rangers 2

The big game this weekend with third place Hearts playing league leaders Rangers. The match was live on Sky kicking of at 12.00 so I decided to leave home about 10.30 to get some exercise before heading to Tynecastle. After a short walk I arrived at Foundation  Plaza around 11.15. I sorted out my  checking app before going through turnstiles  and entering the ground. Despite feeling ravenous I ignored the catering kiosks and arrived at my seat around 11.30. The teams were warming up as I arrived in the ground and I was looking forward to a competitive match.

Last week Hearts were awful in the first half at Livingston but made a number of team changes for todays match. Into starting to the side came Taylor Moore, Peter Haring, Josh Ginnelly, Gary  Mackay-Steven (GMS). Having played a three our three formation for the season Hearts reverted to a four two three one for todays match. With three wingers in the side Ginnelly lined up on the right, GMS on the left and McKay as the number ten supporting Boyce as the lone striker. Rangers played their strongest available side with Kent and Morelos being the danger men up front. New Manager Giovanni Van Bronckhurst has played former Leicester full-back Calvin Bassey at centre half. 

Hearts started the game well and had a great chance within three minutes. Liam Boyce bustled past Connor Goldson to run onto a John Souttar through ball. Unfortunately he seemed to be unsure what to do as Alan McGregor ran from his goal. The strikers lobbed attempt was touched over his crossbar by McGregor. Minutes later Moore found Ginnelly on the right. The winger cur the ball back form the byeline but Cammy Devlin's shot was blocked by the Rangers defence. Rangers went ahead on nine minutes when Fashion Sakala beat Devlin and cut the ball back from the goalie to Alfredo Morelos on the six yard line. His shot into the far corner of the net gave Craig Gordon no chance of making save, Four minutes later a long ball from Goldson found Joe Aribo clear on the left behind Moore. After taking an excellent first touch he moved into the box and shot low past Gordon to give Rangers a two goal advantage. Despite being to goals down hearts continued to pressed forward and both Boyce and Ginnelly had shots just past McGregors’ post. Ginnelly’s protests to referee Nick Walsh that his shot had deflected off a Rangers defender brought him a yellow card which was to prove costly later. McGregor in the Ranges goal brought time-wasting to a fine art by taking ages to find a sport to take goal-kicks, then waving in evens for  short pass before sending them up field as Hearts brought in players to mark them before McGregor launched the ball upfield. Despite protests from Hearts players referee Walsh chose to ignore the time wasting tactics and only played one additional minute in the first half.

Hearts started the second half well and from a short corner GMS had a shot saved by McGregor. In fifty-thee minutes Hearts came even closer. Haring played Ginnelly in behind the Rangers defence and his cross from the byeline was smashed onto his own crossbar by Rangers Bassey before being cleared. Rangers were still in the game and Gordon got down well to block an effort from Scott Arfield as he ran through on goal. Hearts then had an excellent chance when a cross to the far post by Ginnelly was brought down by GMS just outside the penalty area. His pass back into the penalty area came off Connor Goldson’s hand before falling just behind Boyce. The strikers shot flew over the bar as referee Walsh ignored Hearts claim for a penalty. In seventy-one minutes Hearts were awarded a free-kick thirty yards from goal after Moore was bought down. Stephen Kingsley took the kick but the ball hit the cross-bar and rebounded to safety. With ten minutes remaining Hearts lost Ginnelly. There was a clash between Barasic and Devlin over a throw in. Barasic squared up to Devlin and Ginnnelly went to assist his team-mate. It was a case of ‘handbags’ in all honesty but the referee booked Barasic and then showed Ginnelly as second yellow card and subsequent red. The game ended with Ragers winning 2-0 but Hearts had the bulk of possession and more shots on goal. For me the key moment in the match was the performance on referee Walsh. He failed to clamp down early on Rangers time-wasting tactics and then in the second half seemed to feel that every tackle deserved a booking.  the game ended with eleven yellow cards with Ginnelly's second leading to a red. Some of these were ridiculous in particular Craig Gordon' booking. Morelos ran through from an offside position and dived as Gordon challenged him. the referee booked Gordon for his protests as Morelos lay on the pitch about a yard from the byeline in supposed agony waiting for treatment. 'Surprisingly" he managed to get up and limp back into play.

After the game as I walked home I though Hearts played really well/. The only difference between the two sides was Rangers managed to take their chances while Hearts could not. With the transfer window coming along soon a new striker would help Hearts failing which Jamie Walker needs to get a chance in the side. 

Teams

Hearts: Gordon, Kingsley, Souttar, Haring, Boyce, Mackay-Steven, Devlin, Moore, McKay, Halkett, Ginnelly. 

Subs: Woodburn, Gnanduillet.

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Bassey, Goldson, Kent, Aribo, Kamara, Morelos, Sakala, Barisic, Arfield. 

Subs: Wright, Lundstram