Rangers

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Rangers manager Derek McInnes: "[Hearts] need to defend the set-play at the end if they are going to get their victory and we've obviously taken advantage.

"Hearts had two or three top performers tonight. We scored a brilliant goal but didn't do that enough. It was two teams playing very direct. [Josh] McPake and [Calvin] Miller were very strong.

"I thought we were fortunate to go in 1-0 up at half-time. I don't think any team really grabbed the game and controlled the game, but I think Hearts had more opportunities to play in our half. It was a very topsy-turvy game. When we did get a chance to transition on them, we never quite looked after the ball well enough.

"Disappointed that from a winning position we never kicked on from that. The last chance at the death we should score. Findlay Curtis, what a cross he's put in... It was begging to be eaten up and it's a bit strange how its not gone into the back of the net.

"The top end of my side, they're very young and sometimes they need to come through these types of games and atmospheres, but we have to say we didn't play to our level, but the spirit and resilience to keep going...

"We could've gone on to win it, that would've been unfair on Hearts but we would've obviously taken that."

On his reception, McInnes added: "It was exactly what I thought, it's football, it's Scottish football. Hopefully history can be kind."

And on the tense handshake with Wouter Vrancken: "I actually don't know [what happened]. Maybe just got caught up in the heat of the moment. I thought he was going to thank me for leaving him such a strong squad. He's very lucky to inherit such a strong squad of players."

Olwethu Makhanya's late header rescued a Scottish Premiership point for Rangers and ensured they did not lose more ground on leaders Celtic on a hostile return to Hearts for manager Derek McInnes.

Have your say on the game

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Dujon Sterling insists "nobody can stop us" when the "right Rangers" turn up as he urged his side to put down a marker at Tynecastle tonight.

Derek McInnes returns to his former club with the aim of lifting Rangers seven points clear of third-place Hearts.

The Ibrox side lost both trips to Gorgie last season and Hearts are unbeaten in the league on home soil since April 2025, a 25-game run.

Contemplating a statement victory, defender Sterling said: "It puts down a marker to say that we're strong away from home and we're strong at home as well.

"We have no fear going into the game, we know what we need to do, we know who we are and it's about just being ready and matching everything that comes at us.

"If we turn up and we're the right Rangers, then nobody can stop us, in the league anyway."

Right-back Sterling, 27, has been with Rangers since 2023 and feels injuries rather than poor mentality have hampered the club in recent seasons.

"In terms of mentality, I don't really think there's been an issue in past squads," said the Englishman.

"We've always had key injuries to key positions, to key players, and we've started slow, had to chase to get back into it and then basically run out of steam at the end.

"Right now, we're keeping up with the pace. This time last year we were 13, 14 points behind. At the minute, we're only four.

"Everyone's goal in the group is obviously to try and win the league. There's no point coming to Rangers if you're not here to win trophies. Every game's a must-win game."

• Rangers boss Derek McInnes has won just one of his past 10 Scottish Premiership away games at former side Hearts (D4 L5), a 2-1 victory with Kilmarnock in October 2024.

• Hearts have won three of their past four league games against Rangers (L1), as many as their previous 31 in the top flight beforehand (W3 D6 L22).

• Rangers have lost both of their past two league visits to Hearts, last losing more in a row in March 1986 (4).

• Hearts have won 11 consecutive home league games by an aggregate score of 25-4. Indeed, Hearts are unbeaten in 25 league matches at Tynecastle (W21 D4) since a 1-0 defeat to Dundee in April 2025.

• Rangers have only lost one of their past 14 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W10 D3), a 2-1 defeat to Hibs in May last season.

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Hearts are again without Harry Milne (knee), Christian Borchgrevink (hamstring), Oisin McEntee (muscle), Stuart Findlay (groin), Ageu (muscle), Craig Halkett (Achilles), Blair Spittal (shin) and Tom Renaud (ankle).

Rangers remain without Ross McCrorie, Cammy Devlin, Lawrence Shankland (all hamstring), Youssef Chermiti (knee) and Daisuke Yokota (groin).

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Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland, 31, could return from hamstring surgery in early December. (Sun, external)

Manager Derek McInnes expects Shankland and Rangers team-mate Cammy Devlin to pass on information to the squad about going to face their former side Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday evening. (Record - subscription required, external)

Defender Dujon Sterlin, 26, is "happy" at Rangers and "there are no problems" regarding his contract situation, with his current deal still having 18 months to running. (Scotsman - subscription required, external)

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Derek McInnes is convinced Rangers can thrive on the hostility that awaits them on Wednesday night - because they've already proved it this season.

The Ibrox boss referenced his side's 1-0 derby win at Celtic Park in September - where Rangers had no fans in the 60,000 crowd - as the template for how to end Hearts' 18-month unbeaten home run and silence a febrile Tynecastle.

McInnes, who is returning to Gorgie for the first time since his summer exit, said: "I remember when we beat Celtic at Ibrox [3-0 in the League Cup], we said it would be different the following week.

"Of course, it's a totally different set of circumstances, but we still had to deal with the game.

"There's a lot of talk when there's these big games, and obviously there's a lot of talk about this one tomorrow night, but ultimately the players have to perform at their level. I felt we got that in that game.

"Despite the circumstances, despite not having any fans, despite the intimidating atmosphere, I take comfort in the fact that they were so confident with their work, very assured.

"You need to work for that confidence, you need to work for that authority in a game. It doesn't just come because you've turned up and done it before.

"Tomorrow's a different game, but there are similarities in terms of how we deal with it."

While there has been much change at Hearts since McInnes was replaced by Wouter Vrancken, the Rangers boss revealed goalkeeper Beau Reus is the only new Tynecastle recruit he didn't have a hand in bringing to the club.

"The goalkeeper is the only player I didn't sign or work with," he said. "Although I hadn't worked directly with a lot of the new signings, they were players I had numerous Zoom calls and conversations with.

"Even at the end of last season, during the first week of my holiday, I was speaking to Tom Renaud, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, MJ Kamara and Amadou Ba-Sy.

"It means you feel you have a wee in with those guys. It's somebody else's job to bring those boys on now.

"They've got their job to do but they've shown enough encouragement this season to suggest they will be title contenders again. They are such a well-run club."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers manager Derek McInnes his been speaking to the media before his return to Tynecastle to face Hearts on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

Here are the key points:

• McInnes accepts he may not get the reception at Tynecastle he'd like night and admits to feelings of "guilt" about leaving in the summer when the club was still in "mourning" about coming so close to winning the title.

• He adds: "I loved my time at Hearts, I need to say that. It was only a short time, but I thought my Hearts team were a breath of fresh air for Scottish football last season. I really enjoyed what we managed to achieve. It shows what can be done despite not having the huge financial muscle of Rangers and Celtic to compete with and I was proud of what we did there."

• McInnes admits he totally understands fans will feel the same way about his departure as he felt when his captain, Lawrence Shankland, swapped Tynecastle for Ibrox.

• McInnes says that left him feeling "flat" after what Hearts had just gone through, especially as the whole club was still trying to process how close they'd come to a first top-flight title in 66 years.

• He insists there's still a justifiable sense of "grievance" about the title near miss and maintains that "but for a few contentious decisions" Hearts would have won the league.

• The Rangers manager points to the result, and performance, at Celtic Park a few weeks ago as evidence his side can do what no team has done since April 2025 (in a game settled in 90 minutes) and beat Hearts at Tynecastle.

• McInnes describes Hearts away as "a test for my team, but I think we're ready for it".

• He wants his players to focus on the game rather than the atmosphere and is confident they have the quality to keep up their recent momentum.

• He adds: "Hearts have such a real strong squad. That's a home record to be proud of. We understand it's going to be a difficult game. Tynecastle is a brilliant atmosphere, it can be ferocious at times, it can be so passionate. You've got to deal with that side of it. But you've also got to be confident enough to deal with the game."

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

It was important Rangers bounced back from the Dundee draw with a resounding result and performance to match.

They delivered on both fronts. Kim Min-su was integral to everything good about our attacking play; the guy just needs a goal and he'll be flying.

The decision to bring back Kevin Kelsy and have Ryan Naderi as the second striker was the correct one, both strikers getting on the scoresheet and scoring instinctive goals in terms of being in the right place at the right time.

The 4-0 scoreline flattered St Johnstone in all honesty. Rangers' xG was 4.20, which I think is our highest this season in the league. It further backs up how important Kim and Badredine Bouanani were at creating.

Hearts is up next on Wednesday and it will be one everyone else in the league will have eyes on to see if we slip up.

This isn't one for Derek McInnes, on his return to Tynecastle, to overthink. Same team and go out and make sure three points are secured before Hampden and the League Cup semis on Saturday night.

Celtic-supporting former winger David Templeton has revealed then manager Neil Lennon tried to persuade him to snub a move to Rangers in 2012, but Hearts said he would not play for them again if he did not accept the six-figure transfer and instead waited to run out his contract to join their Glasgow rivals. (STV Radio Football Podcast, external)

Former Rangers manager Michael Beale has personally refunded his Zulte Waregem fans their ticket price after they suffered a fourth defeat in a row. (The Herald, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Sportscene's Steven Thompson and James McFadden review Kim Min-su's performance in Rangers' 4-0 win over St Johnstone (UK only).

Kevin Kelsy scores twice as Rangers comfortably defeat St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

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Turr Rommens feels things "can only get better" at Rangers as the Ibrox club bounced back from dropping points at Dundee last week to ease past St Johnstone.

The 23-year-old, who picked up a groin injury at the end of the 2-1 defeat to Hibernian in August, returned to action as a substitute in Saturday's game.

"Especially after such a long injury, it's nice to be back on a pitch and get a win," Rommens said.

"Of course, you want to play in all games, but especially the big games, you want to play in them more and but it is football, it is with injuries. I've had a couple now and a little bit unlucky with that. I was desperate to come back and be better than before."

The victory was Rangers eighth in nine games as they prepare for Wednesday night's trip to Tynecastle to face manager Derek McInnes' former club Hearts.

And Rommens feels they are finally starting to see the rewards for their hard work.

"He [McInnes] gives a lot of tools to work with and he gives you confidence to do your stuff on the pitch, but with guidelines," he added.

"You can see it on the pitch now.

"Of course, if a lot of players leave and a lot of players come in, you need to adapt and it's not easy for everybody.

"The first couple of games was difficult but we're getting better and better and everybody understands what is expected of them.

"I think it can only get better.

"We need to finish above them [Hearts], there's no doubt about it.

"Because what Hearts did last year and also now that the gaffer, Shanks [Lawrence Shankland] and Cammy [Devlin] are here, there's a little bit more pressure on the game and we will be ready for it on Wednesday."

Rangers fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's big win over St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Chris: Best performance of the season so far. Great attacking play, handled the conditions and recovered well from a wobble at the start of the second half. Our front four carried a huge threat. The only negative is that we should really have been out of sight by half time.

Allan: Good performance in horrific weather. The strikers are playing well together and scoring. What was McInnes thinking when he choose the team at Dens splitting them up? If it's not broke don't fix it. At the moment it's hard see how Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti get back into the team.

Ronnie: Solid performance from Rangers. Ryan Naderi and Kevin Kelsey are forming a great partnership. No weaknesses across the team and we never looked in trouble. A very comfortable three points. Hopefully the manager sticks by the players who are getting the results and resists the temptation to tinker with his starting eleven. We have a strong squad despite the injuries and plenty of options from the bench. We are looking like a real Rangers team.

Steve: Good result in the end but we need to start putting more goals in in the first half. All credit to St. Johnstone because they didn't give up until the red card, that's when you saw them shrink into themselves a little bit and that gave Rangers the chance to stretch the game and get the goals they should have got in the first half.

Stuart: Decent performance, good to see Djeidi Gassama rested but what has Findlay Curtis got to do to do to get a chance?

Derek: Too many chances wasted, like the last two games, really riding our luck. Scored the second when Saints were dominating the play. However three points and easy enough in the end. Still a long way to go, build up still far too slow.

Rangers winger Ross McCausland is set to leave the club in January after failing to break into Derek McInnes' plans. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Rangers narrowed the gap to Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit to one point as Kevin Kelsy's double helped them to an emphatic victory over St Johnstone.

Read the match report

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