Rangers 3 Hearts 1 – Fireworks from Rangers / Clement reaction

Matchday

Viaplay League cup semi-final

Sunday 05th November 2023

Rangers vs Hearts

Rangers team news:

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Lammers, Sima, Cantwell, Danilo.

SUBS: McCrorie, Ridvan, Dessers, Lawrence, Cifuentes, Sterling, Wright, Davies, McCausland.

First half action –

5 mins – Not much in it, a weak Shankland shot and Lammers cut back into Clark only attacks so far.

10 mins – Hearts had a better last 5 without troubling Jack Butland, moved the ball well. Rangers yet to find a rhythm.

13 mins – First effort for Rangers, nice ball to Sima and slips in Danilo who shoots high and wide.

16 mins – Good break from Rangers, Cantwell skips over the ball and Danilo fires wide. Better from Rangers.

17 mins – CHANCE! Tav to the byline and his cut back is headed towards goal by Sima and Clark dives to push out.

18 mins – Header by Cantwell again saved by Clark as Jack crosses.

Rangers finding their feet.

27 mins – SAVE! Cantwell in on right and fires in a drive that Clark pushes wide. Good build up as Rangers overload the right.

From that attack a couple of corners ends with a Tav cross to Danilo who heads a difficult chance over.

29 mins – Caution Cantwell 📒

32 mins – Hearts press, Shankland again peels off and heads across goals, cleared and a shot is blocked and Rangers clear. Leon Balogun getting treatment as game is stopped with Rangers in possession.

Rangers Dealt with that attack fine but we need to press on again, game has become scrappy.

35 mins – WIDE! Barisic corner headed wide from Sima.

45 mins – Easy catch for Clark as Sima’s looping header causes no issues.

45 mins + – Caution for Kingsley 📒

Half time score – Rangers 0 Hearts 0

Rangers largely the better side with Butland untroubled, long throws Hearts only avenue of attack.

Few good moves from Rangers but have to be careful we don’t fall into bad habits of simply crossing when it’s hitting areas for sake of it. When they do work it we have created.

Hearts are still well in this game and Rangers have to take our chances. I can’t see Clement being happy with that overall, better side but it isn’t a high bar.

Big 2nd half ahead.

Second half action

Half time change Todd Cantwell OFF Scott Wright ON

48 mins – PENALTY! Danilo taken down by Clark as he beats the keeper to the ball!

50 mins – GOALLLL! Tavernier converts and Rangers are ahead! 1-0

54 mins – SAVE! Butland claws away a Hearts header from a corner.

🎵 Super Jack Butland in Goal 🎵

55 mins – GOOOAAAAALLLLL! It’s Scotty Wright! What a finish as he smashed it low into the bottom corner from the angle. 2-0!

57 mins – SAVE! What a save by Jack Butland! Kingsley arrowed one to the top corner and he tips it over, what a save that is.

61 mins – GOOOAAAAALLLLL! James Tavernier smashes in a third with a tremendous free kick. 3-0

The skipper!

71 mins – Save again by Butland low down, so safe.

77 mins – WIDE! Superb by Sima and Wright flashes his effort wide.

Sub – Davies, Dessers, Lawrence ON. Lammers, Danilo and Balogun OFF

79 mins – VAR penalty check for Hearts, to the monitor and it’s given. Kingsley was sent off for a second yellow in that decision. Decision reversed, no second yellow and Penalty given.

GOAL – Shankland scores. 3-1

85 mins – Lawrence shot is spilled out and Dessers acrobatics fires over.

87 mins – Nearly a fourth as Barisic shot is tipped wide by Clark.

88 mins – Caution Devlin 📒

90 mins – Caution Denholm 📒

Late sub – Sterling ON Tavernier OFF

Full time score – Rangers 3 Hearts 1

Summary –

Strong second half for Rangers, Wright immediately added a different shape and Rangers were dangerous. Danilo won the penalty well as Tavernier converted then Scott Wright fired in a beautiful second. He loves Hampden for Rangers.

Then the skipper with a third from a cracking tree kick. A late penalty concession doesn’t dampen the spirits as Rangers head to Hampden.

Whisper it gently but the tide is beginning to turn with this team. You can see what they are trying to do, how they are trying to attack and that’s a big win today.

We’ll be back here in December. this club is built on trophies, let’s kick on under this manager and start delivering them.