Hearts will take no consolation whatsoever from the fact their progress to the status of serious entity in a Scottish title race was demonstrated by the atmosphere at Ibrox. The scale of celebration that met Rangers’ victory decreed they had not defeated also-rans. Danny Röhl, the Rangers manager, went cavorting down the touchline as his team scored a fourth.
This proved the game of the season in Scotland. A genuine thriller. It was also one Rangers dare not lose; that they took three points properly fuels hopes of snatching the league from Celtic’s grasp. An inspired second half from Rangers was sufficient as their visitors wilted.
As if to prove nothing in this city happens in isolation, it was also pertinent that Celtic had scored a 97th‑minute winner at Kilmarnock before Rangers and Hearts kicked off. Hearts lead Rangers by two with Celtic, who have a game in hand, a further point back.
Should Rangers prevail in May, some apologies will be due towards Kevin Thelwell. The former Rangers sporting director was ridiculed for bestowing £8m on Everton for the services of Youssef Chermiti last summer. As Chermiti toiled during his early months in blue, Thelwell lost his job. A double at Celtic Park in January, coupled with this hat-trick against Hearts, means Chermiti has discovered a useful knack of being the man for the big occasion. Thelwell might yet have the last laugh.
“We fully deserved over the 90 minutes to win,” Röhl said. “We have developed a lot of resilience since I came here.” The German was keen to point out Rangers’ points haul since he was appointed in October is the best in the league. He seemed to take umbrage with criticism of his team selection for the draw at Motherwell on Wednesday night. Recovery in the Hearts fixture meant the 36-year-old was in the mood to jab back.
How Hearts respond to this blow will be fascinating. Context must be applied. Chermiti’s transfer fee remains a multiple of what the Edinburgh club will spend on anyone. Hearts have rattled the Old Firm over a matter of months, merely at the start of a journey as assisted by Tony Bloom and world-renowned analytics. They may well have to learn to lose before they can win. Back-to-back home games – Falkirk and Aberdeen visit Tynecastle – provide scope for Hearts to prove they can rebound from the ropes.
Rangers host Celtic on the second of those weekends. Writing off Hearts’ challenge at this point would be both folly and premature. They have delivered the story of this campaign.
Derek McInnes, the Hearts manager, said his players reminded each other of their league position in the dressing room as the dust settled before he had to.
“We don’t feel as if we are going to go anywhere,” McInnes said. “We are disappointed, clearly, but not too despondent. There is still a lot to win and we are still in it.”
Hearts had an early blow with the loss of Oisin McEntee, who damaged his shoulder with an awkward landing. The Irishman’s replacement, Michael Steinwender, slashed the ball into his own net after a Mikey Moore close‑range effort had rebounded from the Hearts bar.
Hearts were a goal up by that point, Marc Leonard the gleeful recipient of an Emmanuel Fernandez pass intended for Nico Raskin. Leonard played a one-two with the excellent Cláudio Braga before slamming home. Hearts snatched the lead again through Braga, who met Steinwender’s cross while beating John Souttar to a header. An expectant Ibrox was silenced.
Parity was restored by the interval. Craig Halkett dived to block a Chermiti shot when the centre-back may as well have stayed on his feet. After the ball flew back to him via Halkett’s back, Chermiti was handed a second try; this time he made no mistake.
The simplicity of Rangers’ third will infuriate McInnes just as it is bound to delight Rohl. Andreas Skov Olsen – whose afternoon was otherwise notable for two comedic dives – found the unmarked Chermiti at the near post. The striker still had to leap and connect; he did precisely that to leave Alexander Schwolow helpless.
Hearts never really looked like summoning an equaliser. Rangers added gloss to their win through the man of the moment, who strode on to Djeidi Gassama’s pass after a rapid counterattack. Cue bedlam. “I always believe in him,” Röhl said of Chermiti. “My job is now to keep him hungry and he will be hungry because he’ll want to score more. Big games are for big players and today he showed how big he is.”
Rangers believe they can win this title all right. Hearts’ motivation will derive from showing their race is far from run. Stand by for more, much more, twisting and turning.
