Heart of Midlothian

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Craig Gordon insists he is up for the fight to reclaim the gloves for Hearts and Scotland after the veteran goalkeeper returned to full training.

The 42-year-old was number one for both club and country last term but has not played since early May after suffering a slipped disc in his neck.

In his absence, Zander Clark, Ryan Fulton and Alexander Schwolow been in action for Hearts, while Angus Gunn started Scotland's two World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Belarus.

With Liam McFarlane and Harry Stone also available to Tynecastle head coach Derek McInnes, Gordon told club media: "There's certainly a fair few goalies in the squad.

"It's an interesting situation of how all those guys are going to fit into a squad because there's only one of us that can play and there's going to be a number of goalies unhappy.

"We have to work hard in training and do as much as we can to try and get ourselves in the team and when we're there, try and take that opportunity to stay there.

"I just need to keep training well and try and get in the manager's thoughts to get a start, and that's all I can do.

"Just keep doing everything I possibly can to show that I'm the one that the manager should be picking and that's the same for all of us, so, it's going to be good competition and we'll see how it goes."

Gordon made his 81st international appearance in the 3-0 home loss to Greece in March.

Asked if a return to Steve Clarke's squad for the remaining four games of World Cup qualification was in his thoughts, Gordon replied: "Yeah, absolutely.

"We've made a good start with four points from the first two games so we put ourselves in a good position.

"I'd love to be back involved with that team. But, firstly, I need to make sure I'm doing well here and training well and give myself that opportunity to be selected."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Hearts continued their superb start to the season with a 2-0 win at Rangers on Saturday and have three players in my team of the week.

Alexander Schwolow made his debut at Ibrox and the 33-year-old can be proud of his clean sheet. Perhaps not wholly convincing for Rangers' disallowed goal but made several key saves as Hearts secured a famous win.

Harry Milne started at right-back against Rangers, underlining his versatility. The former Partick Thistle man continued his impressive start to the season by winning the penalty that sealed the win.

Head coach Derek McInnes described Lawrence Shankland's performance as a "masterclass".

Two goals to sink Rangers and the Scotland international looks revived under McInnes' management.

Watch all the highlights as Hearts picked up their first win at Ibrox since 2014 with a 2-0 victory over Rangers.

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Former Hearts and Rangers player Steven Naismith on BBC Sportsound: "A perfect performance from Hearts.

"Watching the game, they looked like the home team and the team in a control, the ones who picked the right moments to attack. But a lot of that comes down to the recruitment.

"The game was never end to end, at no point did they really look exposed and that's credit to the new recruitment team.

"It was a Derek McInnes performance, out of possession really hard to beat, everyone working for the team and they carried a threat right to the end. They could've had a third goal right at the end.

"Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga up top are a brilliant combination. The first goal epitomises that but throughout the whole game, it was a brilliant performance.

"The performance shows exactly what they can do."

We asked for your views on Hearts 2-0 victory against Rangers, which saw Lawrence Shankland score a double at Ibrox.

Here's what some of you said...

Derek: Three points at Ibrox, a rare sight for Hearts but a very welcome one! Rangers have been a stumbling block for us recently and at times it feels like we're just cursed against the Old Firm. How many cup finals and semis have we lost to one of the ugly sisters? A win's a win though! Some folk will say Hearts had it easy against a weak Rangers side but at the end of the day we won, and that's all that I can ask.

Ralph: It's been a long time coming. Hearts performance today was spot on, although Rangers were slightly better in the second half in patches. Not one failure in the Hearts team today. It was the best Hearts team I have watched. Since 2014 at Ibrox, bring on Celtic in a few weeks time.

Stewart: Fantastic performance from Hearts, I honestly could not fault one player in that squad today. Everyone gave everything and Rangers can count themselves lucky it was only two. Yes Rangers might be awful but you still have to go to Ibrox and do the business and we duly did. Extra shout to Shankland for his two goals but overall everyone Fantastic great team performance! Bring on Celtic!

Steven: It's a difficult one to gauge, it's a good three points but Rangers are so poor. The thing to remember is this is just the beginning for Derek McInnes and Tony Bloom. And it's the very beginning in a bright future for Heart of Midlothian.

Jim: Let's not get carried away just yet, it was a very good performance from Hearts against a poor Rangers side and a few dodgy refereeing decisions went our way for once. If we can get positive results, wins against Hibernian and Celtic as well as Falkirk then I will begin to believe we have more than an even chance of at least finishing second and maybe a Scottish Cup win. We have a well balanced squad who look eager to win every week and with Craig Gordon and Ageu still to come back competition for places is keen. Things are looking very promising.

James: At last Hearts go to Ibrox and play to our strengths and belief. A great result now let's make sure we keep that belief for the rest of the season.

Peter: Tenacity, skill and belief won us that game, with a slice of good fortune flung in for good measure. Rangers looked fairly poor but Hearts helped them to seem like that. Confidence is rising in what is a strong group at Hearts, manager and team.

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Derek McInnes described under-pressure Rangers counterpart Russell Martin as "a fine man, a fine manager" as his Hearts side ended an 11-year wait for a win at Ibrox amid chants from the stands for the home head coach to be sacked.

Martin insisted afterwards that he had no intention of quitting despite becoming the first Rangers team boss since 1978 to fail to win any of his first five league matches in charge.

Asked by BBC Scotland whether he had any sympathy for the former Rangers defender, McInnes said: "More than a bit, a huge lot. I didn't like that today. It's so unfair on a manager, I don't like it at all.

"He is a fine man, he's a fine manager and, when results don't always come at clubs, especially clubs this size, it's more than just the manager for me. That is tough on him.

"It's early on in the season. He's a new manager and, likewise with myself, I am just in at Hearts and, if we were still sitting towards the bottom end of the table and integrating loads of players and trying to kind of implement what we want to do, you'd be asking for that understanding. And, as managers, that's all we ask for."

While Rangers sit third bottom of the Scottish Premiership after the 2-0 defeat, Hearts are three points clear at the top before reigning champions Celtic face Kilmarnock on Sunday after taking 13 points from a possible 15.

"I enjoyed my team, but it was hard to ignore that and it was hard not to have empathy of course," former Rangers midfielder McInnes, who has been previously linked with a return to Ibrox as manager, added after a chorus of boos greeted Martin's exit up the Ibrox tunnel.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes believes his side gave a "90-minute performance" and deserved their victory at Ibrox.

Asked if it was a statement win, he tells BBC Scotland: "It is an important win for us in terms of giving belief to a lot of the new lads and the lads who have been here a while who have been scarred by not winning at places at Ibrox.

"Everybody was making reference to our poor record here and it is good to put that to bed.

"People will focus on Rangers, but I thought we were bullish and confident and had a way about us in the first half.

"It is tough for Rangers at the minute and we wanted to add to that anxiety, so any opportunity to press them high and not let them build the way they want to play, we tried to take that."

As for his two-goal captain, McInnes adds: "It was an absolute masterclass by Lawrence Shankland up front. He led the line brilliantly and was well supported behind - we were outstanding to a man."

Lawrence Shankland's double saw Hearts move three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a win away to Rangers as the side win at Ibrox for the first time since 2014.

Have your say here.

Read the match report.

Celtic have jumped to the front of the queue ahead of Hearts and plenty of other European clubs to land Kazakhstan winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, the 22-year-old who plays for homeland club Yelimay Semey but is out of contract at the end of this year, according to reports in the former Soviet nation. (The Herald), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Nicolas Raskin remains out of the Rangers squad despite boss Russell Martin insisting any issues between two men are resolved.

Canada defender Derek Cornelius, on loan from Marseille, and Youssef Chermiti, the 21-year-old Portuguese attacker who signed from Everton, both go into the squad.

Hearts pair Ageu (hamstring) and Frankie Kent (knee) are set to be sidelined until next month at least but new German goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow comes into contention.

Kenneth Vargas is fit again, while Jamie McCart, Craig Gordon and Christian Borchgrevink are all close to returning but unlikely to feature this weekend. Ryan Fulton (groin) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still out.

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Centre-back Craig Halkett feels "fit and healthy" after a couple of injury-hit campaigns as Hearts look to continue their strong start to the season with victory against Rangers.

The 30-year-old returned to action towards the end of 2024, having only made 11 appearances in the 2023-24 season, before suffering a hamstring injury at the end of January.

Now back to fitness, Halkett has made Derek McInnes' starting XI on seven occasions this season, scoring two goals against Stirling Albion in the Premier Sports Cup group stage.

"I've personally been really happy with how I've been performing," Halkett said as he looked forward to Saturday's Premiership game against former club Rangers.

"I think you can always get better, but just to come in and play the majority of the games this season and my body's feeling good, I'm feeling fit and feeling healthy and I'm enjoying playing again, so it's been a good start.

"I'd probably say that I always thought I could get back there, but there definitely was a time where it was a struggle both physically and mentally. Thankfully, I kept my head down and worked hard.

"I've got myself into a good place now and I'm feeling fit and healthy, so I just need to keep going."

On the match at Ibrox, Halkett said: "I don't think it's a season-defining game. Obviously we're going to try and win the game but if we fall short and don't win, I don't think it's going to derail anything."

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Former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan says Derek McInnes' side should be going to Ibrox on Saturday full of confidence and "smelling blood".

Hearts remain unbeaten under McInnes and are neck and neck with Premiership leaders Celtic, while Rangers are six points below after opening the league season with four draws.

Hearts are seeking a first win over Rangers in more than five years - and a first victory at Ibrox since 2014.

"Hearts have got off to a good start to the season, they're top of the league," said Livingstson's McGowan on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They should be going into this game fully confident and smelling blood a little bit in terms of if they go there and win.

"That would put a real marker down in terms of trying to get second and trying to push the big two as much as they can.

"Not only would it enhance Hearts' chances, it would put a massive massive shockwave through Ibrox if they can go there and win.

"I'm not too sure that Russell Martin would survive it, but it puts a lot of pressure on the Rangers hierarchy to make a decision if Hearts go there at the weekend and win."

Hearts face competition for Galymzhan Kenzhebek should they decide to follow up their interest in the Kazakhstan winger, who plans to exit for a higher level when his contract with Yelimay Semey expires on 31 December, with Slovakian rivals Zilina and Slovan Bratislava and two Russian clubs having lodged transfer bids this summer and others in Austria, Belgium and Czechia also watching the 22-year-old. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Despite Nicolas Raskin being quoted publicly saying he had no intention of leaving Rangers during the summer transfer window, the 24-year-old Belgium midfielder will not be in the Scottish Premiership club's squad to face Hearts on Saturday following talks with head coach Russell Martin. (STV), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

When Tony Bloom proclaimed just over a month ago Hearts would win a league title within the next 10 years, many Scottish football fans scoffed at his vision.

Since Bloom spoke to Jambos on 3 August, the fortunes of the Old Firm have really taken a hit and it begs the question - has he been to see a witch doctor?

With Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell urging fans to give under-pressure boss Russell Martin more time and Celtic supporters wanting their boardroom emptied quicker than players queue up for the exit door, the start to the season couldn't have worked out any better for supporters from the capital.

Now Hearts have a chance to lay down a marker at Ibrox this weekend.

I want Derek McInnes to be positive in his tactical approach at Ibrox. I think this game is tailor-made for a return to a back four.

The biggest weapon in McInnes' attacking arsenal could be the Rangers supporters. I get the idea of keeping it tight and frustrating Rangers, so that the crowd starts to go against the home team.

But the Rangers defence can be got at, and we have attacking and pacy players who will get us goals if they get the opportunity – as opposed to be camped behind the ball in a low block looking to counter.

It will be interesting to see who lines up in goals following the signing of German keeper Alexander Schwolow, who comes with an impressive pedigree and over 200 Bundesliga appearances. After some criticism of Zander Clark since the start of the campaign, I do think McInnes will give Schwolow his debut.

A lot of my Jambo-supporting mates feel they've seen the script for Saturday too many times – a struggling Rangers side, manager under pressure and can't buy a win. Then Hearts pitch up, and it turns out to be a routine victory for Rangers.

Saturday is the biggest test for McInnes as Hearts manager to date. And it will be fascinating to see if we see the version of the team Bloom believes us to be, or the one we've known in the past to struggle away to the Old Firm.

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• Rangers are unbeaten in 18 meetings with Hearts in all competitions (W14 D4); only from October 1998 to March 2004 have they ever had a longer run without defeat against the Tynecastle side (24).

• Hearts are winless in 17 visits to Rangers in all competitions (D3 L14) since winning 2-1 in the Scottish Championship in August 2014. It's their longest ever winless run away to the Glasgow outfit.

• Rangers have failed to win any of their past five league matches (D5), their longest winless run in the top flight since a sequence of six between October and December 2005 under Alex McLeish (D4 L2).

• Hearts are unbeaten in eight league matches, winning seven of those (D1) and scoring 2+ goals in each of their past four. It is the club's longest unbeaten run in the competition since going 10 without defeat between December 2023 and February 2024.

• Hearts' Harry Milne has won 37 duels in the Scottish Premiership this season, the most of any player in the competition, while only team-mate Cammy Devlin (19) has made more tackles than him this term (17).

Craig Halkett insists Heart of Midlothian will block out the talk of a Scottish Premiership title challenge and he is only focussed on ending their poor recent record against Rangers. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes hopes to "build on the good start" after being named Scottish Premiership manager of the month for August.

The former Kilmarnock manager has led Hearts to three wins and a draw in his first four league games, with the Tynecastle side currently second in the table, behind Celtic on goal difference.

McInnes now takes his side to Ibrox on Saturday, where Hearts will be seeking their first victory against Rangers since 2020.

"It's nice to win an award but it's really all about the team's performances," said McInnes.

"We've had a good start, and hopefully we can build on it, but any individual award is down to good staff and players, and the team doing well."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Lawrence Shankland insists Hearts have to "enjoy" and "thrive" on the expectation to deliver when they travel to Ibrox to face Rangers this weekend.

The Tynecastle side sit behind Premiership leaders Celtic on goal difference after a positive start to the season and know victory in Glasgow would open a nine-point gap over Russell Martin's side after only five fixtures.

"Go and enjoy it, enjoy that bit of pressure on you that people are expecting you to go there and get a result," Shankland said.

"You need to enjoy that and thrive on that and I think where we are positivity wise, and the way we've started the season, we can go there and enjoy it. We'll look to go there and win the game."

Hearts have not won at Ibrox since 2014 when both sides were in the Scottish Championship, but came close two years ago when two injury-time goals overcame an early Shankland strike.

Despite Rangers drawing all four of their opening league fixtures, the Scotland striker doesn't believe it's a good time to face them.

"Not necessarily," Shankland said. "I think the important thing for us is we're in a good place and everything about us is positive.

"Going to Ibrox is a good opportunity. If you're going there in good form it's a good place to go, it's an enjoyable place to go and play football and a really good environment.

"When you go through to Glasgow you always need to be on your game to get a result, but I believe we're capable with the confidence we're playing with at the minute, the belief we've got.

"We're in a good position to go into any game."

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Hearts' record away to Rangers has been described as "abhorrent" as they look to make a real statement at Ibrox in the Premiership this weekend.

The Tynecastle club have not beaten Rangers in 18 attempts since a 1-0 Scottish Cup victory at home in February 2020.

At Ibrox it only becomes worse as Hearts have only won three matches there this century, with their last victory coming 11 years ago in the Scottish Championship.

Currently second in the table with three wins and a draw, head coach Derek McInnes will be hoping his side can build on their strong start and compete with the Old Firm this season.

"It would be a real statement early on," Joel Sked of the Hearts Standard told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"Hearts' record at Ibrox is abhorrent. The start of 2020 was the last time Hearts beat Rangers full stop, so it would end a massive, long-awaited hoodoo.

"Last season Hearts struggled in big games or against teams they perceived as rivals. They've started this season well in that, beating Aberdeen, going away to Tannadice and winning.

"Beating Rangers would elevate the hopes and expectations of some fans this season and it could get a lot of people speaking."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

With transfer deadline day now a distant memory Derek McInnes has assembled a squad that should be the envy of most managers in the Scottish Premiership.

From a Brazilian midfielder to a German goalkeeper, from an exciting Portugese striker to a pacy Greek winger, the Tynecastle dressing room is once again a cosmopolitan environment with a broad range of accents and languages.

And if the past few matches are anything to go by, the Tynecastle faithful are in for a real treat this season.

There is, however, still plenty to work on. In the four Premiership matches played so far Hearts have taken 10 points and are the top scorers with 10 goals and five different players finding the net.

But in conceding six and with just one clean sheet - against Aberdeen on the opening day - only Livingston have lost more goals (eight). Dundee, who many now feel are favourites for relegation, have lost only five in their four games.

The goalkeeping situation will be interesting in the next few weeks. Zander Clark has held the position since Craig Gordon suffered a neck problem in May.

The 42-year-old has recently returned to full training and with experienced German keeper Alexander Schwolow now in the door, competition for the jersey is fierce.

Hearts will need to be solid at the back this weekend when they travel along the M8 to take on a Rangers side who are striving to find their feet after a major turnover of players and management.

Many would say this is the perfect time for Hearts to end a dismal run against the Ibrox club, who are unbeaten in the past 18 meetings.

It was in the Scottish Cup in February 2020 when Oli Bozanic scored the only goal of the game to defeat Rangers at Tynecastle.

Only Craig Halkett from the squad that day remains at Hearts while James Tavernier is the sole Rangers survivor.