Hearts duo expose Rangers' fatal flaw as struggling trio slammed after Tynecastle defeat
Rangers are now 12 points behind Hearts after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Rangers’ 2-1 loss to Hearts has brutally exposed their deep-rooted issues according to former Ibrox hero Kris Boyd, who dismissed their recent unbeaten run following their Tynecastle setback on Sunday.
German boss Danny Rohl saw his eight-game unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership come crashing to a halt in Gorgie, as two first-half goals in four minutes from Stuart Findlay and Lawrence Shankland ensured the league leaders took all three points in the capital.
The crucial title clash looked to have started perfectly for the visitors when Bojan Miovski tapped home Emmanuel Fernandez’s header after just 10 minutes, only for VAR to rule it out for offside, and Hearts took full advantage of the switch in momentum to go 12 points clear of the visitors as they approach the midway point in the season.
“That goal had been chalked off, but after that, Hearts never looked in danger of losing that,” bemoaned Boyd. “If you look at it in isolation, you'd think it was a close game, but that wasn't a close game. There was only one winner today. It wasn't a midfield masterclass from Cammy Devlin. Spraying the ball around. But he didn't allow that Rangers midfield to get settled.
“He was up against them, stopped them playing. There were a few clashes across the pitch, but he did enough to put the Rangers players off, and then all of a sudden Hearts started to build momentum, because Rangers had started the game reasonably well. Going back to Monday night at Hibs, they scored the goal with [Emmanuel] Fernandez, and then they sat in and tried to hit on the counterattack. If they'd have done the same again today, they could have quite easily held on, but they didn't. It's all ifs and buts. Rangers don't create a lot.”
Rangers did pull a goal back with the final kick of the game, as £8million summer signing Youssef Chermiti notched only his second goal for the club following a mistake at the back from Frankie Kent. However, Boyd - who scored 129 times for the club during his playing career - believes it will do little to spark an upturn in form for the struggling Portuguese youngster.
"He [Chermiti] got a goal a few weeks ago against Kilmarnock, and nothing has really changed since,” said Boyd. “I think Rangers' problems are highlighted today. Between [Hearts centre-backs] Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay, they've got seven goals. Rangers' frontline of Danilo, Miovski, and Chermiti have got seven goals as well. That highlights the problem. Rangers' struggles in front of goal with their strikers are clear to see.
“Hearts’ two centre-backs have the same number of goals as Rangers' front three. That can't be the case - but it is. Danny Rohl, they've been winning games, but they're games that they should be winning. Their test came today, and they failed. Then you've got Motherwell, Celtic, St Mirren, Aberdeen - big games are coming. You'll know more about them there. They've built up a little bit of momentum, yes, but Rangers are miles off it.”
Former Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley echoed the former Ibrox man’s comments in the Sky Sports studio, and believes head coach Rohl needs to address several gaps in his squad when the transfer window re-opens in 10 days.
"I think Rangers started the better team for the first 15-20 minutes,” added Hartley. “They were a bit unfortunate [with the disallowed goal]. But I don't think they've got enough creativity in their team. From middle to front, they've not got players that can create something or break the lines. They don't have enough people running beyond.”
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