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19 hours ago
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1 min: Hearts get a throw in the Rangers half. Kingsley launches, only to be cleared. And Rangers escape on the counter to great boos. Diomande gets it eventually but can’t do anything with it.
Away we go at Tynecastle
1 min: What a noise rings out into the Eninburgh sky from the home fans. Tony Bloom was in the crowd, videoing the Hearts song being performed by Colin Chisolm. Are we not excited?
Danny Rohl, the Rangers manager, spoke to the BBC: ““You have to look at what you need today here as well, and that was the reason why we had some changes. We have a fantastic bench today.
“I think it is also crucial to understand that we have to stay in the game, we need good game management, and at the right moment, we have to be ruthless. [I expect an] emotional game, a lot of duels, second balls, set plays, and if all these things come together, then hopefully we can bring our quality with the ball as well on the pitch.
“I cannot speak for Hearts, but for us it’s a crucial one, it’s a big one, we know the table, we have to take points, we have to take three points, and if we take three points today, then we are in a fantastic place for the last three finals.”
For Hearts, the 4oth anniversary of you know what passed this week. A personal memory: I was nine when it happened and I have never forgotten seeing footage of their fans on Grandstand. The next day, I went to Knutsford Fair, a big event round my way, and still couldn’t those images out of my head as I went on the rides. Perhaps it’s those moments that pull you most into football.
Not sure anyone outside the Old Firm and Hibs – that’s a lot of people in Scotland – wants such scenes to be repeated.
The Hearts manager, Derek McInnes, spoke to Sky Sports: “I don’t think we need to build this game up for obvious reasons. You only need to look at the games yesterday and last week to see that discipline is vitally important. I imagine it will be quite volatile in terms of the intensity and speed of the game. We need to be really careful. I want my team to do what we have done all season at Tynecastle and make things difficult for the opposition.
“We have good options. Every time we look at the opponent it’s a different shape and different set of circumstances. I think with Braga and Shankland up top we have boys who can score goals and are confident in their work.”
Last time out:
Two changes from Easter Road for Hearts. Alexandros Kyziridis and Islam Chesnokov come in for Pierre Landry Kabore and Jordi Altena drop to the bench.
Outgoing Rangers captain James Tavernier replaces Jayden Meghoma. Mikey Moore, Andreas Skov Olsen and Mohamed Diomande come in for Thelo Aasgaard, Bojan Miovski and Djeidi Gassama drop to the bench.
The teams
Hearts: Schwolow, Steinwender, Halkett, Findlay, Kingsley Leonard, Baningime, Braga, Shankland, Kyziridis, Chesnokov. Subs: Fulton, Kent, McCart, Kabore, Spittal, Forrest, Altena, Kerjota, Mato.
Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Sterling; Chukwuani, Raskin, Diomande; Moore, Skov Olsen, Chermiti. Subs: Kelly, Rommens, Aarons, Barron, Aasgaard, Gassama, Antman, Naderi, Miovski.
Preamble
It goes without saying that this is massive. Following last week’s dramatic Edinburgh derby, and Celtic beating Hibs on Sunday, it’s all back on Hearts. Just four matches left, and the Old Firm to face, with Celtic to play on final day. Rangers, four points behind, have an outside chance, of the title but might just Celtic the title by winning. That makes for a heady mix.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm UK time. Join me.
