Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Lindsay Herron

Hearts player ratings vs Rangers as Robbie Neilson tactical switches laid bare in 3-0 defeat

Hearts were given a ruthless awakening as they were taken apart by Rangers on a miserable night at Tynecastle.

Robbie Neilson changed his game plan with a view to trying to catch Rangers on the counter-attack but it failed miserably as the system was over-run by the Ibrox side.

In fairness to the manager the players simply didn't follow the instructions but it was more about how Rangers played. The wing backs were exposed and Hearts were exposed in the middle of the park too. Barrie McKay had a chance at 1-0 but shot straight at Allan McGregor. It was a tough night for the fans who had enjoyed a 10-game unbeaten run and St Mirren are now breathing down their necks in the race for the best of the rest spot. Here's how we rated the home side at Tynecastle.

READ MORE: Hearts 0 Rangers 3 as Light Blues run riot in comfortable Tynecastle win - 3 things we learned

Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

Zander Clark - 8

Hearts’ best player as he made big saves from Kent and Sakala and a wonderful block to keep Lundstram out in the first half alone with a string of second half stops.

Tony Sibbick - 5

Had to work so hard to try to keep Sakala at bay in a whirlwind start by Rangers and it was tough all night for the centre back.

Kye Rowles - 5

An equally tough night as Rangers swarmed all over the Hearts’ defence for most of the night and he did well to stop it not being more punitive.

Stephen Kingsley - 6

Such a busy night as Hearts were cut apart by a rampant Rangers side and was brushed off the ball too easily at times by Tillman

James Hill - 5

Looked swamped and found it hard to get into the game. Couldn’t stop Borna Barisic marauding down the left side and taken off at half-time.

Garang Kuol - 5

Lovely break in 22 minutes and set up McKay in what was Hearts’ only first half attack but he was completely over-run in midfield.

Robert Snodgrass - 6

Tried his best to inject some passion into the game but was also a bystander as Rangers dominated the middle of the park

Barrie McKay - 6

Had a big chance in 22 minutes when Kuol played him in but he shot too close to McGregor. Bad night at the office.

Alex Cochrane - 5

The only bonus was John Beaton changed a penalty call after a monitor check and booked Ryan Kent for diving.

Lawrence Shankland - 5

Might have scored in the second half but it would have mattered little on a terrible night.

Josh Ginnelly - 5

No real supply in fairness as Hearts were hemmed in for so long but offered very little.

Subs

Alan Forrest 6 -

Showed some threat when he came on and hit the post.

Orestis Kiomourtzoglou 5 -

Sent on at half-time to toughen up the midfield area

Yutaro Oda -5

Had a shot on target after coming on late in the game.

READ NEXT:

- Stephen Humphrys reveals what he told Robbie Neilson when Hearts boss asked about permanent switch

- Hearts star Craig Gordon back in gym just ONE month after double leg break as rehab journey begins

- Lee Johnson in Kevin Nisbet Hibs transfer update as he details chat following Millwall decision

- Josh Campbell opens up on 'WILD' Hibs hat-trick and emotions he was experiencing before penalty

- Ryan Porteous Hibs to Watford switch helped by John McGinn as defender learns fan demands

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.