Hearts Keep Title Push Alive With Win Against Rangers

Hearts come from behind to beat Rangers and stretch title lead

Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland scored in the second half after Dujon Sterling’s first-half opener for Rangers.

No club outside Celtic and Rangers has won the Scottish title since Aberdeen in 1985, with Hearts now closest in decades...

Hearts came from behind to defeat Rangers 2-1 on Monday, moving three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and keeping their push for a first league title on track.

Lawrence Shankland led the turnaround for the leaders at Tynecastle. After falling behind to Dujon Sterling’s deflected first-half strike, Hearts regrouped after the break. Stephen Kingsley equalized before Shankland netted the winner to trigger celebrations across the ground.

Hearts have won three in a row and now lead second-placed Celtic by three points with a better goal difference. Rangers sit seven points back in third, leaving just three matches left in a tight title race.

No club outside Celtic and Rangers has lifted the Scottish Premiership since Aberdeen in 1985, and Hearts are aiming to end that run.

A final-day meeting with Celtic could decide it all, but Hearts still have a chance to clinch the title before then.

On Friday, McInnes said he wanted to experience Tynecastle “in all its glory” for one of its biggest matches. He got it as his side walked out to a packed stand of maroon and white and a roar that filled the ground.

Rangers missed a clear opening in the 19th minute when Tochi Chukwuani headed James Tavernier’s corner over the bar from close range.

Danny Rohl’s team quieted the home crowd in the 23rd minute. Tavernier’s long throw was only partially cleared to Dujon Sterling, who volleyed from eight yards and saw the ball deflect in off Michael Steinwender.

McInnes made a change at halftime, bringing on Blair Spittal, and the switch gave Hearts more energy going forward.

Shankland had a fierce strike blocked by Emmanuel Fernandes shortly after, and Claudio Braga soon forced Jack Butland into his first save of the half.

The equalizer arrived in the 54th minute. Alexandros Kyziridis cut in from the right and curled a low shot against the far post, leaving Stephen Kingsley to tap in the rebound from just outside the six-yard box.

Hearts sealed the win in the 71st minute. Spittal found Kingsley down the left, and his cutback took a deflection off James Tavernier. The ball fell to Shankland, who finished low past Butland to send Tynecastle into a frenzy.