MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 11:44:05| >> :600:190363:190363:
[monks data]
Attendance: 49,811
Rangers logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 15
Dec 1, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Hearts logo

5-0

Morelos (11'), Kent (37'), Berra (64' og.), Stewart (80', 85')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Rangers keep pressure on Celtic with thumping win over Hearts

Rangers keep pressure on Celtic with thumping win over Hearts
© Reuters
The Light Blues are keeping pace with Celtic at the top.

Alfredo Morelos struck his 25th goal of the season as Rangers swept past hopeless Hearts 5-0 at Ibrox.

Fresh from breaking two scoring records with his double against Feyenoord in midweek, the Colombian has now netted in every one of his last 10 starts for Steven Gerrard's side after nodding them ahead 12 minutes in.

Much has been made this week about the striker's potential transfer value but in this form his real worth is simply priceless for the Light Blues.

Substitute Greg Stewart struck a late double to round off a merciless display after Morelos' opener was followed up by Ryan Kent's strike and a Christophe Berra own goal.

The victory meant Rangers kept stride with Celtic at the top of the table, with the Hoops just one goal better off than their bitter rivals.

Hearts themselves remain locked on the same points as bottom duo St Johnstone and St Mirren.

But this was another abject performance that must now put to bed any faint hope interim manager Austin MacPhee had left that he might be able to persuade Tynecastle owner Ann Budge to give him the job permanently.

In his first game as caretaker during last month's Betfred Cup semi-final with Rangers, MacPhee had left Uche Ikpeazu on the bench in the hope he could make a later impact. It did not work as the Ibrox side cruised to victory.

This time the powerhouse frontman was in from the kick-off but he made barely a dent on the home defence.

Instead it was mostly one-way traffic towards Joel Pereira's goal.

Gerrard was unhappy with referee Don Robertson's decision not to award his side a penalty 11 minutes in when Glen Kamara was shoved in the back by Jamie Walker.

But Gerrard was smiling 60 seconds later as his team grabbed the lead.

The hosts refused to relent on the back of that unsuccessful spot-kick appeal, with Kamara working the ball out left for Borna Barisic.

The Croatia left-back's delivery was on the money and in a repeat of Rangers' second goal against Feyenoord, Morelos got in between two defenders – this time Aaron Hickey and Oliver Bozanic – to bullet home with his head.

He was unlucky not to grab a second on the half-hour mark as Pereira made a block at point-blank range but there was a feeling the hosts had allowed their tempo to drop.

Hearts created their only opportunity of the first period in the 36th minute as Jamie Brandon drove to the by-line but Ikeapzu could only fire wide on the stretch.

If that half chance gave the Jambos hope, it was immediately snuffed out as Rangers doubled their lead a moment later.

Scott Arfield and Joe Aribo had been brought back in by Gerrard, with Arfield the man surprisingly starting in the centre of midfield with Aribo out wide.

But the change of roles made no difference as Arfield measured a ball in behind for the former Charlton midfielder, who cut back inside before serving the ball up on a plate for Kent to sweep home.

The opening quarter-hour of the second half saw the Hearts goal live a charmed life.

But the visitors could only stem the tide for so long and found themselves three down after 64 minutes.

Steven Davis release James Tavernier down the right. The Rangers skipper was aiming for Morelos but Berra – aware the striker was behind him – stuck out a leg and watched with horror as the ball dribbled into his own net.

It got worse for Hearts in the final 10 minutes.

First Sheyi Ojo robbed Hickey on the by-line before cutting inside to shoot. Pereira saved that effort but was helpless as substitute Stewart slotted home on the rebound.

The keeper failed to cover himself in glory five minutes later as he allowed Stewart to head home at the second attempt as the ball squirmed through his grasp and over the line.

ID:381353: cacheID:381353:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6032:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Tynecastle Park, home to Hearts, from 2011
Read Next:
Austin MacPhee: 'Hearts are good enough to beat Rangers'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1211103543134
2Aberdeen12101125121331
3RangersRangers12723179823
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd135531914520
5Motherwell126151616019
6St Mirren145361923-418
7Dundee134362225-315
8Ross County143651222-1015
9St Johnstone144191727-1013
10Kilmarnock133371526-1112
11Hearts142391524-99
12Hibernian131571222-108


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!