Heart of Midlothian

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• St Johnstone have lost each of their last eight league meetings with Heart of Midlothian since a 2-1 win in February 2022.

• Hearts have won each of their last four away league games at St Johnstone, this after winning none of their previous 15 visits in the top-flight prior (D7 L8).

• After their 2-1 win over Motherwell, St Johnstone could win back-to-back home league games for the first time since December 2023.

• Heart of Midlothian haven't conceded in any of their last three away league outings; not since March 2007 have Hearts had a longer run of away clean sheets in the top-flight (five).

• St Johnstone have had more high turnovers against them (226) than any other side in the Scottish Premiership this season, while only Celtic (214) and Rangers (200) have forced more high turnovers in the division this campaign than Hearts (180).

Hearts intend to hold fresh talks with captain Lawrence Shankland to determine whether the 29-year-old Scotland striker could still be persuaded to stay at Tynecastle Park beyond the end of his contract this summer. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hearts and Dundee will kick-off the Scottish Cup quarter-final weekend when the Dark Blues travel to Tynecastle on Friday, 7 March.

The all-Premiership tie will kick-off at 19:45 GMT, and be televised live on Premier Sports.

The Jambos fired six past Tony Docherty's side earlier this month in a league meeting.

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Michael Steinwender is still settling into life in Gorgie, but, the defender is already sure Hearts will "stick together" after their first defeat in nine games.

The 24-year-old signed from Swedish side IFK Varnamo on a three-and-a-half-year deal last month and made his home debut in Sunday's loss to Rangers.

Steinwender scored a header from a James Penrice corner to cancel out a first half own goal by team-mate Jamie McCart, but Vaclav Cerny restored Rangers' lead before McCart, almost unbelievably, scored a second own goal to give Philippe Clement's side a 3-1 win.

Though it was it first taste of defeat in maroon, the Austrian is enjoying life at Hearts.

"It's brilliant, everybody sticks together, everybody's been helping me since I came here, the people, the team, everybody's nice, everybody's helping each other," he said.

"I think you could see in some parts that we can really play good football and we also create a lot of chances.

"I'm so happy to be here and cannot wait to move forward - I'm feeling good.

"Of course, when you don't play a competitive game for two months, it's a long time, but I'm getting there, and I will do everything to get there as fast as possible."

Steinwender was delighted to score in front of his visiting parents but disappointed with the defeat in a game where Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland had a superb afternoon and the home side missed several chances.

On his goal he said: "Of course it's a nice feeling. My dad had his birthday on Saturday, so that was his birthday present.

"It felt good for me and for my family, but I'm still not happy with the result and the team, of course, were not happy after this game.

"There is a lot of work to do and we will analyse the game and we will look it through and then we will improve."

The Sportscene panel discuss Hearts' attacking threat as the hosts dominated despite losing 3-1 to Rangers at Tynecastle.

We asked for you Hearts fans for your views after the 3-1 home loss to Rangers. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Chris: Our composure failed us, at the back and the front. A really impressive line-up and on another day we win that game comfortably - just another hard-luck story in a season of hard-knocks. Our backline needs a leader, they barely talk to each other, but if you don't take your chances then this is what happens. Another 'what could have been'.

Douglas: Can't believe the scoreline. Totally dominated. Rangers' goalkeeper [Jack Butland] won it, though Hearts finishing should have been more composed. The better team lost.

Derek: I don't know how we lost. Elton Kabangu should have had a hat-trick in the first half, Lawrence Shankland looked good for a goal... even with the own goals, Hearts should have been out of sight. We won't play as well as that again all season, and we'll play worse and win, but that was three points that have passed us by.

Alan: I thought our goal-scoring issues had been put behind us, but they returned to haunt us. Numerous chances went begging and instability in defence completed a wasted opportunity.

Jim: The important acts in football happen in the boxes at both ends of the pitch. At one end, you have a keeper in inspired form who prevented a routing of Rangers. At the other, an equally-talented keeper whose defenders caused two jammy goals. If Hearts play this well and create as many chances the future is very bright.

Alexander: The best we've played against Rangers in a very long time. I'm really scratching my head as to how we have not got at least a draw from that.

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• Rangers have scored in 23 of their 26 games, only Celtic (24) have scored goals in more matches in the Premiership this season.

• Hearts have scored in their last three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games from 22 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.

• Rangers have scored in each of their last 18 games in the Premiership, scoring 42 goals in that run, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 28 games from 16 September 2023 to 14 April 2024.

• Hearts have scored in each of their last three games in the Premiership, scoring 10 goals in that run.

• Rangers have won their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 2 January 2024 to 28 February 2024, a run of nine games.

• James Penrice has assisted four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hearts player has more.

• Vaclav Cerny has scored 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Rangers player.

Watch highlights from Tynecastle as Rangers beat Hearts 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership. (UK users only).

Kazakhstan midfielder Islam Chesnokov is holding out for a move to Hearts despite Tobol accepting an offer for the 25-year-old from Azerbaijani club Neftci and he hopes the Edinburgh outfit will renew their interest this summer after failing with a bid in January. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Two Jamie McCart own goals helped Rangers escape Tynecastle with a victory over Hearts as they narrowed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to 13 points and earned breathing space for under-pressure manager Philippe Clement.

The hosts had gone into the game unbeaten in eight outings and seeking a fifth win on the bounce - and can count themselves unfortunate not to at least secure a point that would have taken them into the top six.

McCart's first own goal had been cancelled out by Michael Steinwender, but Vaclav Cerny restored the lead and the home centre-half's second deflection ensured defeat, despite Hearts dominating possession and chances.

Give us your thoughts on Hearts' defeat., external

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley thought "we were the better team" despite their home defeat by Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

"I thought we played very well," he told BBC Scotland. "We've had more of the ball, more passes, more shots, more clear chances, yet we've lost the game 3-1.

"The story of the game is they've been clinical and we haven't. If we take our chances, big chances, then I think the game would've been different.

"Tactically, I thought we were good and we created those moments and we created big moments to score. We had a little bit of misfortune with a couple of the goals."

Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland denied home striker Elton Kabangu with a series of saves.

"He's disappointed," Critchley said. "I don't want him to be disappointed because he's the one that's getting the chances.

"He's a real threat. Butland's made a fantastic save low down."

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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley, his players and the home fans will be left wondering how they did not take their chance to move up to fifth place before city rivals Hibs faced St Mirren in Sunday's afternoon kick-off.

It looked like they would badly miss the industrious Cammy Devlin, absent in midfield through concussion, as Rangers threatened early down the wings.

However, once Hearts settled, the visitors looked there for the taking, appearing vulnerable in defence and shot of confidence following last week's cup exit.

On-loan Union St Gilloise striker Elton Kabangu should have had a first-half hat-trick to add to his five goals in his previous five games.

Hearts have scored more set-piece goals than any side in Premiership this season and it was no surprise that Steinwender rose above Souttar to head the equaliser after the latest in a series of badly defended corners.

However, while two goals on the break halted Hearts' momentum, Critchley will have seen plenty of positives to take into next weekend's trip to face bottom side St Johnstone as they emphasised again their potential to finish in the top six.

What is behind Hearts' resurgence under Neil Critchley since the turn of the year?

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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In the aftermath of Hearts' hard-fought Scottish Cup win against St Mirren on Monday night, there were a few posts on social media along the lines of: "Beni Baningime just played 120 minutes, see you in 18 months."

Such digs at the midfielder, who has been hampered by injuries throughout his time in Gorgie, were brought to his attention - by team-mate Ryan Fulton.

"It cracked me up," the infectious Congolese, who was player of the match, said.

"I'll be so real with you, for me, fans in this game are the best thing. Without their support, we wouldn't be where we are as footballers.

"When we were playing in Covid, it was dead, let's be so real.

"You want that pressure, but ultimately, for me, the opinions of people, good or bad, don't affect me.

"I don't look at it. I don't care. Why would you listen to random people that you don't know? I care about everyone in the world. I wish everyone the best. I really do, and I care about what everyone's going through.

"But ultimately, if you're not my family, and if you're not my friends, then whatever you say about me doesn't really matter."

The words of Elton Kabangu must matter, then, because the pair have struck up quite the friendship.

The on-loan Belgian striker's parents are also Congolese, so the duo speak in Lingala - one of the languages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"His personality is great," Baningime, 26, added.

"Me and him speak the same language - we speak Lingala at times. We're speaking our own language and everyone's just looking at us.

"Honestly, he's been a great addition. More than just a footballer, great friend, great personality, great character and that is what we have in this changing room."

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Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin is currently undergoing protocols for concussion but could still feature, while Lewis Neilson has recovered after coming off early on against St Mirren last Monday.

Craig Halkett (hamstring), Frankie Kent (quad) and Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) are out.

Rangers have no fresh injury problems. Danilo, Leon Balogun, Connor Barron, Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo have been sidelined in recent games.

In episode five of the Romanov: Czar of Hearts podcast, the countdown to the end of the season is on and, despite Romanov's changes in the dugout and constant tinkering with team selection, the Tynecastle club are still in with a chance of a historic second place in the league and the Scottish Cup final.

Listen and subscribe on BBC Sounds

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Neil Critchley is hopeful "top performer" Cammy Devlin will be available for Sunday's Premiership visit of Rangers after the Hearts midfielder suffered a head knock on Monday night.

The Australia international was replaced midway through the second half of Hearts' Scottish Cup tie at St Mirren and has been following concussion protocol.

As such, the 26-year-old has yet to return to full training, but should he suffer no setback, he will be allowed to do so on Saturday.

"We have to follow [the protocol], so that's so far so good," the head coach said.

"There's a bit where you do a little bit on the bike and then you start to progress

"Then you start to come on to the pitch and do a bit of running, semi-opposed stuff and then opposed.

"He's coming through that and if he does carry on with no setbacks, then that means he will train tomorrow and be available.

"He's been a really important member of our team, integral to what we've been doing, so we're obviously hopeful that he makes it."

Hearts welcome a bruised Rangers to Tynecastle after the Ibrox club suffered a shock Scottish Cup exit to Queen's Park last weekend.

"They'll be looking to put that right and they'll be hurting from that," Critchley said.

"But if you look at the games prior to that, they were in really good form and winning games and scoring lots of goals.

"So we're very respectful of the fact they've got good players and they're a good team. But we're in good form and we've got some good players and the lads think we're a good team, so it's got the makings of a really good game."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media before his Hearts side welcome Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Here are the key things he said:

• Cammy Devlin, who is currently following concussion protocol after a head knock on Monday night, has yet to take part in full training, but could do on Saturday. "If he does carry on with no setbacks, then that means he will train tomorrow and be available," says Critchley.

• The team have proved their "resilience and grit" to be on the cusp of top six having been at the foot of the table in late December.

• Critchley's objectives for the season haven't changed, despite now being in a much more promising position than when he came in: "We want to be in the top six but we're not getting carried away, we haven't achieved anything yet."

• Hearts now have "a willingness not to lose", which was shown in the Scottish Cup shootout win against St Mirren.

• Rangers' cup defeat to Queen's Park "doesn't affect us", though Critchley is aware they will be "hurting and keen to put things right".

• When asked if it's a better or worse time to be playing Rangers after their cup exit, Critchley said: "Who knows? We'll find out at 12 on Sunday."

• The head coach confirmed Lewis Neilson has recovered from a dead leg.

Chris Bertram
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Philippe Clement will perhaps be surprised he is still in charge at Ibrox after the embarrassing Scottish Cup exit against Queen's Park.

With Rangers failing to mount a title challenge, the defeat against the Spiders has turned up the heat significantly on the Belgian.

Rangers' hierarchy have been tight-lipped all week, which is a backing of sorts. But Clement will surely know a poor result at Tynecastle on Sunday will nudge him closer to an exit.

Six weeks ago he might have fancied his side's chances of earning a morale-boosting victory, but Neil Critchley has steadily improved Hearts once he had time to assess the squad.

They have won four of their five league games in 2025 - with one draw - and Cammy Devlin has been pivotal to the resurgence. He tops the table for the number of tackles (23) as well as being joint-top for interceptions in the Premiership in 2025.

The loan signing of Belgian striker Elton Kabangu seems to have liberated Lawrence Shankland too, and the Jambos showed the sort of resilience that was sorely lacking earlier in the season when they edged past St Mirren in the Scottish Cup.

Yet, despite the cloud hanging over Clement, Rangers have won their past four league games - and all by a margin of at least two goals.

History is in Clement's favour too, with Hearts winless in their past 17 meetings with Rangers in all competitions, a run that includes 13 defeats.

So, Rangers and their fans have become used to success against Hearts, and therefore anything other than another victory in Gorgie could spell the end for Clement.

Read all this weekend's Premiership picks