'Weaknesses all over the park': Hearts urged to exploit Rangers' biggest vulnerability in Tynecastle clash
15/02/2025 16:00
Much has been made of Rangers’ poor away record in this Scottish Premiership campaign, and a trip to Tynecastle on Sunday lunchtime represents an opportunity for Hearts to pile even more pressure on the beleaguered Philippe Clement.
Rangers have dropped points on their travels at Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, Motherwell, St Mirren, Dundee and Hibernian this term, while beginning the campaign with a goalless draw at the home of Hearts back in August.
And as the Gers fans turn on Philippe Clement following that Scottish Cup debacle at the hands of second-tier Queen’s Park, a team sitting a colossal 13 points adrift of Celtic in mid-February could yet hit a new low against a team high on life after their 6-0 obliteration of Dundee and last week’s penalty shoot-out triumph over St Mirren.
Ryan Stevenson, who had two spells with Hearts a decade ago, is backing his old employers to help extend the chasm at the top of the table to 16 points.
He feels that, while Rangers have again overachieved in the Europa League, a series of poor domestic displays have highlighted the ‘weaknesses’ Hearts boss Neil Critchley should be looking to exploit.
Hearts urged to target Rangers’ vulnerabilities at Tynecastle
“Rangers are vulnerable. They look like they have weaknesses all over the park,” Stevenson tells the Daily Record. “Their league performances and that disaster against the Spiders in the cup show a team that is struggling badly, and if I was in the home dressing room on Sunday I'd be gunning to get after them.
“Hearts have absolutely nothing to fear. If they get their noses in front or even just get to half an hour and they’re well within the game, which I expect them to be, the pressure that’ll be on Rangers will be incredible.
“Domestically, Rangers look frail at the back, frail in midfield and they don’t really have much up front. However, I said the same last year, that this was the perfect time to play them, and Hearts went and got spanked 5-0 at Ibrox!
“But the Jambos a different animal this year.”
After an abysmal start to 2024/25, Hearts have climbed to seventh since replacing former Rangers forward Steven Naismith with one-time Liverpool youth coach Critchley. The Edinburgh outfit host Clement and co on the back of three wins in their last four Premiership matches.
Rangers are still without Dujon Sterling, though John Souttar’s return has eased the the club’s defensive injury concerns. Still, Stevenson feels the visitors to Tynecastle can be got at, especially from out wide.
Lawrence Shankland tipped to deepen Philippe Clement’s woes
“If I was in Critchley's shoes on Sunday, I'd be telling my players to ask serious questions of Rangers' backline. Going forward my only thought would be to get it wide and get in the box,” Stevenson adds.
“Because, any time the balls come in the box and you’re asking defenders questions, I think Rangers look vulnerable. Get it forward, get it wide, get it in the box, have Elton Kabangu and Lawrence Shankland cause chaos in there. If it’s there to be put in behind, put it in behind. Stretch them.
“When you play the Old Firm, the best thing you can do is never overcomplicate it. No defender likes running towards their own goal so test them, especially because of the pressure they’re under, playing for a club like Rangers, and the results being the way they have.
“If Hearts can get on top or get a goal, I think it would be very hard for Rangers to come back. Kabangu and Shankland can cause Rangers all sorts of problems.
“I genuinely fancy Hearts to pile the pressure on Clement. He should have been sacked after last weekend.”
Rangers have frequently been urged to bring Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox in recent times, and this feels like a perfect time for the Scotland international to re-locate his shooting boots after a strangely profligate season so far.
