RANGERS eased to victory over Hearts as Tynecastle as Michael Beale recorded a tenth victory as manager to end the Jambos’ impressive recent run of form.
Alfredo Morelos netted in either half as Malik Tillman also found the target. Rangers were denied by the VAR on a handful of occasions as they had to settle for three on the night.
THE BEST UNDER BEALE BY SOME WAY
Talk of being performance happy and result happy has been a regular theme of Beale’s post-match media conferences in recent weeks. He has been waiting for the complete package as his pleasure at the outcomes has been offset by frustrations over the manner of the showings produced.
There will be issues for him to pick out of this one when he analyses it. The list of positives far outweighs the negatives, however, and this was the most complete outing that Rangers have put together under the Englishman as they finally took the handbrake off and motored to an emphatic victory.
The margin of the win should have been greater and it wouldn’t have flattered the visitors. On a night where they could have struggled, and perhaps even stumbled, it was the clearest sign yet of what Beale is trying to build during his second stint at Ibrox.
Beale could afford to give January recruit Todd Cantwell just 15 minutes. Fellow new arrival Nicolas Raskin will make his debut when his work permit is cleared, and Beale is rightly enthused about what both players will bring to the team once they are up to speed this term.
This is now ten wins from eleven matches under Beale and Rangers are building some real momentum at present. It will prove relatively worthless in regards to the Premiership but it provides hope for the cup competitions and, if continued, will give them a real platform to build on heading into the new campaign as further reinforcements get set to arrive in the summer.
DOMINANT START SET THE TONE
The Old Firm fixture at Ibrox a month ago stands as the most significant game so far for Beale as boss. This was a tough test in its own right, though, and it was one that Rangers passed impressively.
Few would have expected the most fluent performance of the campaign to come here but Rangers stormed out of the traps and should have been well out of sight at the end of a terrific first half. The VAR calls aside, there was a plethora of chances as Hearts were overrun in midfield and found themselves second best throughout.
The first goal, coming inside ten minutes, broke the Jambos’ resistance and set Rangers on their way. Once again, Morelos was the man of the moment at Tynecastle.
Borna Barisic was fouled in the middle of the park. Once he gathered himself, a quick free-kick caught Hearts sleeping and Ryan Kent was free down the left, an area that Rangers exploited time after time.
The cross picked out Morelos and the outcome was never in doubt as the Colombian nodded beyond Zander Clark. Even at that stage, it looked a long way back for Hearts.
When the lead was doubled, it became a case of mission impossible. It was another neat move from Rangers as James Tavernier’s corner found Barisic and the Croatian dinked the ball to the back post.
Goldson nodded it back into the danger area and Tillman provided the finish. It was an accolade the American internationalist more than merited for a fine showing and Rangers were well on their way at that stage.
VAR PLAYS A PART ONCE AGAIN
The VAR offside calls were tight. The second one in particular, which denied Sakala just before the half hour mark, infuriated Beale and he spoke to the fourth official after watching the replay on the screen that was set up in the Rangers technical area.
Morelos had seen an effort ruled out after just six minutes. Tillman won the ball in the middle of the park and Fashion Sakala’s cross from the left was converted from close range.
The celebrations were cut short. Later in the half, they were premature twice from the Rangers fans as a handful got the wrong idea when referee John Beaton signalled after another VAR check that saw Sakala frustrated.
The technology was needed just minutes after the restart as Alex Cochrane challenged Kent in the area. Beaton pointed to the spot but a lengthy VAR check saw the whistler go over to the screen and he only took a few seconds to reverse his decision and book Kent for diving.
The next check didn’t take as long but Rangers were on the wrong end of it once again. For the second time of the night, the offside flag and the VAR correctly ruled out a Sakala strike.
Eventually, Rangers got one in their favour. The linesman and the assistants in front of the monitors couldn’t deny Morelos his second of the night after 68 minutes as he scored at the back post.
With two minutes left, the home crowd appealed for a penalty against Connor Goldson. VAR ruled there was no handball and the TV could be switched off after a busy evening.
HEARTS STILL OFF THE OLD FIRM PACE
The talk in the build-up to this one had been about where Hearts stood in relation to the Old Firm and if the gap to Rangers and Celtic could be closed. This was a reminder of just how difficult that challenge will be and there is some way to go before that becomes a reality.
Beale believed that the Jambos could one day mount a challenge for the title if they were able to retain a squad of players and build in successive seasons. His praise for Neilson – who he tipped to be in the running to replace Steve Clark as Scotland manager – spoke volumes for the job that is being done at Tynecastle.
But the league table doesn’t lie and the 19-point deficit to Rangers, who themselves remain nine adrift of Celtic, tells its own story. Hearts are still well clear of the pack and will be best of the rest this season.
The ultimate aim is to compete with the Glasgow giants over the course of the campaign. This was another 90 minutes that showed the respective levels, however, as Neilson’s side were well beaten for the second time by Rangers this term.
TV AUDIENCE MISS OUT
This one had all the ingredients you would want for a live fixture as Rangers visited Tynecastle. The floodlights were on, the pitch was slick and there was a crackle in the air.
There were terrific goals, VAR calls and no challenge shirked by either side in a hard-fought encounter that lived up to expectations. Off the field, both sets of fans played their part.
It was a shame, then, that those who couldn’t make it to Gorgie, or supporters of other teams across the country, were denied the chance to watch the action unfold as a result of broadcasting regulations that limit the number of matches that can be shown from each ground every term.
Beale lamented that fact in a pre-match interview as he called it ‘the kind of game that showcases our league very well.’ There is little that Sky Sports could have done given the circumstances but that will be no consolation to those that missed out on an entertaining Premiership showdown.
