Summary

  • Cummings & Candeias on target for Rangers

  • Berra header gets Hearts back into the game

  • Rangers back up to second place - ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference

  1. Goodbyepublished at 15:20

    So, Rangers leapfrog Aberdeen and move back into second place on goal difference.

    We'll have more reaction, and highlights of yesterday's games, on our site later.

    Thanks for your company, cheers.

  2. Rangers will be 'stronger after difficult week' - Murtypublished at 15:15

    FT: Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Rangers manager Graeme Murty tells Rangers TV: "We needed a response."

    He adds: "The circumstances were difficult in the game, in the stadium, and I asked the players to stick together and deliver intensity.

    "It wasn't perfect but there were good signs of the kind of characters that we brought in. They managed to handle it and, but for some wasteful finishing and last-ditch defending, I thought we could have been out of sight.

    "It was telling that, although people misplaced passes, no one hid. We needed to move it faster at times but that was pleasing for me.

    "I've got to back the players. I thought they stood up today and they did themselves the world of good.

    "It's been a difficult week and I said to them 'if you come through this with a positive, you will be so much stronger for it. I know I will be."

    Rangers manager Graeme MurtyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    "I thought the players stood up today and they did themselves the world of good..."

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:09 BST 22 April 2018

    #bbcsportscot & BBC Sport Scotland Facebook

    Ian Fisher: Nervy first half, two fine goals, several good chances missed, unnecessarily nervy finish, a victory at Ibrox!

    Thomas: Great battling performance by Rangers today - the midfield was strong & hopefully we take it into next week.

    Alasdair Herkes: That was painful to watch.

    Ron Murphy: When a team is struggling both on and off the park, to turn up and defend is the last tactic that you should employ and simply defies logic. To think the man actually managed Scotland at international level is scary.

  4. Top sixpublished at 15:00

    FT: Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Top six table
  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:58 BST 22 April 2018

    #bbcsportscot & BBC Sport Scotland Facebook

    Churchill: Never a 2-1 game in a month of Sundays. We totally dominated them and had we taken our chances we'd have been cruising.

    Ewan McCann: Great to see Jason Cummings get his chance and his goal today. Has to play next week.

    Steven Porter: A much better performance today, not great but much better. Biggest pass marks to Cummings,Dorrans & Candeias.

  6. 'It was the time to go for Rangers'published at 14:47

    FT: Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Steven Thompson
    Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

    "If you're playing Rangers today, after the week they've had, I'm putting out a really attacking team and going for it right from the first whistle.

    "It looked like they'd set up to contain - it was the time to go for Rangers."

    Hearts defender John Souttar and Rangers midfielder Jason HoltImage source, SNS
  7. 'Early goal was key' - Neilsonpublished at 14:39

    FT: Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Robbie Neilson
    Former Hearts manager on BBC Sportsound

    "The key to the game was the early goal in the second half because it meant that Hearts had to open up, they had to push Naismith further forward, a few midfielders a little bit further forward and it opened things up which allowed Murphy to get in and it allowed Candeias to get in as well.

    "I think if they hadn’t scored that goal as early we’d probably be sitting here looking at a different game.”

  8. Hearts frustrationpublished at 14:35

    FT: Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Michael Stewart
    Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportsound

    "Hearts aren't going to finish fifth if they don't try to win games away from home. Kilmarnock lost yesterday, so it gives them a bit of light at the end of the tunnel in the chase for fifth.

    "If you manage to get three points at Ibrox, then you've got a free hit. There's got to be an intent on how you're going to hurt the opposition - and I don't see that from Hearts away from home."

    Hearts were unable to come back to draw despite an improved second half display at IbroxImage source, sns
  9. 'How games change'published at 14:31

    FT: Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Billy Dodds
    Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

    "How games change. I don’t think anybody in here would have thought it was going to be a 2-1 end-to-end, chances galore, chances missed, hitting the post, mistakes, bad passing… it had everything second half.

    “Rangers had to change at half time. Not personnel wise but the people on the pitch. They were fine defensively when they weren’t being worked and midfield were fine without putting too much pressure on, but it was the front four that had to do something.

    "They had to keep consistently moving, getting on the ball, it was up to them to break Hearts down and they did.

    “Because of that Hearts had to change and open and they don’t like doing that and the game completely changed..."

    Rangers celebrateImage source, SNS
  10. Cummings the hour...published at 14:25

    FT: Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Rangers forward Jason CummingsImage source, BBC Sport
  11. FULL-TIME Rangers 2-1 Heartspublished at 14:22

    Rangers move back up to second spot in the Premiership table, leapfrogging Aberdeen on goal difference.

    The scoreline probably flatters Hearts, with Rangers creating and missing a host of chances.

    Stats from IbroxImage source, BBC Sport
  12. 'Cummings has played his part today'published at 91 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Robbie Neilson
    Former Hearts manager on BBC Sportsound

    "He’s [Jason Cumming] done well, he’s got his goals. I think the three behind him supporting him has helped him create some space to get into the game.

    "Should have had a second goal there to kill it off and make this last four minutes for Rangers a lot easier but he’s played his part today and got his goal, he’ll be quite happy.”

  13. ADDED TIMEpublished at 90 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Three minutes of added time at the end of a pulsating second half.

  14. Keeper caperspublished at 89 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Hearing the Born Free music, Hearts keeper Jon McLaughlin comes galloping out of his penalty area to head clear... but makes a hash of it.

    Rangers, through Alfredo Morelos, has a great chance to seal the points, but his effort is blocked on the line by Michael Smith.

  15. Hearts chancepublished at 88 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Don Cowie swings in a dangerous cross but there are no takers in maroon in the Rangers penalty area and the hosts clear.

  16. Cummings & goingspublished at 86 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Alfredo Morelos replaces Jason Cummings, who netted his sixth goal for Rangers in giving the hosts the lead at Ibrox.

    "He's got his goal and will be hoping that Rangers can hold on," says BBC Sportsound pundit Robbie Neilson.

  17. Berra howlerpublished at 84 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    It should be three. Hearts captain Christophe Berra has an aberration, playing a slack ball straight to Jason Cummings but keeper Jon McLaughlin spares Berra's blushes by saving Cummings' effort.

    You can't play that ball - not even in Fifa or Pro Evo...

  18. Tempers frayingpublished at 80 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Hearts defender John Souttar clashes with Rangers winger Jamie Murphy after Souttar is fouled. The visitors want to get on with proceedings and there's a bit of handbags before referee Craig Thomson restores calm.

    That's Aaron Hughes' day at an end, the Northern Ireland defender is replaced by Euan Henderson.

  19. Murty shuffles Rangers packpublished at 75 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Andy Halliday comes on for Josh Windass. "Looks like Rangers will try to shore things up," says BBC Radio Scotland Sportsound pundit Robbie Neilson.

  20. End to end stuff...published at 74 mins

    Rangers 2-1 Hearts

    Graham Dorrans fires over as Rangers look to re-establish a two-goal lead and a stranglehold on this game.

    With a little over a quarter of an hour remaining at Ibrox, we have a Premiership cracker worthy of the occasion...