Rangers

Rangers fans, we asked for your views on the 3-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle. Here's a taste of what some of you had to say...

Dougie: Meaningless points, from a meaningless game within a meaningless season. Damage done.

Peter: There's going to be critics who will say the scoreline flattered us but I'll take it the three points all day until we can get up and running, on and off the park.

Anon: Another lucky escape with three points. Unfortunately, all this result does is keep our useless manager in a job for a while longer. Why doesn't he do the honourable thing and resign from a job that is too big for him?

Phil: Hearts controlled the whole game and were, by far, the better side but they failed to take their chances due to Jack Butland and some dogged defending. Queen's Park is history. We move on.

Ronnie: Normally a 3-1 win at Tynecastle is a great result for Rangers. It didn't feel like it. All week, we have heard from the manager and players telling us how they need to 'raise their' levels after last Sunday. They didn't. Hearts were by far the better team. Butland was outstanding and got us the points.

Peter: A 3-1 victory at Tynecastle is a great result for any away team. Yes, there were two own goals, but these were the result of pressure being applied and forcing errors from the home team which is all part of the game. I have to chuckle at the absolute drivel that is spouted about the losing team being the better team. Only one stat wins a game.

Anon: I'm not going to be a happy-clapper, this performance was pretty dire. It feels like a chore watching this team sometimes. Play anything like this in the Europa League round of 16 and it's game over, done.

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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).

Injured Rangers trio Connor Barron, Danilo and Dujon Sterling are nearing returns to full fitness. (Herald - subscription), external

Rangers have slashed their wage bill by almost a third, manager Philippe Clement has revealed, with the club detailing a £2.5m drop in first-team costs last season and another £6m expected to be cleared from their costs with the exit of several high-earners last summer. (Sun), external

The Scottish Premiership ranks 23rd in Europe for money made from player sales, with only five leaving for transfer fees during January and the vast majority of the £15.6m being made by Celtic, whose B team has earned more than closest rivals Rangers this season. (Transfermarkt), external

Hannover 96's downturn in form has put their permanent purchase of loan winger Rabbi Matondo from Rangers at risk, with the finalised deal dependent on the German club getting promoted. (Record), external

Ex-Kelty Hearts manager Kevin Thomson hints he has returned to coaching within former club Rangers' academy. (Edinburgh Evening News - 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 Rangers' win., external

Rangers manager Philippe Clement was pleased to follow up last weekend's shock Scottish Cup defeat by Queen's Park with a Premiership win over Hearts.

"Everybody was devastated after last weekend," he told BBC Scotland. "There was only one way and that is getting a better result.

"Hearts went all in. We knew there would be spaces for us also."

Goalkeeper Jack Butland denied the hosts with several fine saves.

"Jack, we know his qualities," Clement said. "He was for a reason a player of the year last season. Today, he had a really strong performance."

Rangers have now won two away league games in a row.

"There's been a lot of talk about our away form and deserved in the first part of the season," Clement added.

"Winning at Hearts, it's an important one. Dundee United was also an important one."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement had made five changes to face Hearts from the side that lost to Queen's Park while insisting they were the result of squad rotation rather than a response to that damaging Scottish Cup exit.

The Glasgow side had been nine unbeaten domestically before then but were five away from home without a win before beating Dundee United in their previous trip outside Ibrox.

Which Rangers would turn up after heading along the M8?

It was certainly a more familiar line-up than the one that started against their Glasgow rivals and they looked to have returned to their previous form early on.

However, the fragility and inconsistency that has marred their domestic season returned and they can count themselves fortunate to have extended their unbeaten run against Hearts to 18 meetings.

That goalkeeper Jack Butland was man of the match tells its own story.

In the end, captain James Tavernier was able to celebrate his 300th Premiership appearance, making him the first non-Scottish player to reach that total in the competition since its 2013 rebrand, with a victory.

More importantly, Clement and the club's board will be able to breathe a sigh of relief as the pressure eases on the Belgian and he and his players took a small step towards mending their relationship with their disgruntled fans ahead of St Mirren's visit next weekend.

Rangers forward Hamza Igamane, 22, admits he needs to improve and believes he is "far from my potential". (Record), external

Manager Philippe Clement reveals Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice, 18, was withdrawn at half-time of last weekend's Scottish Cup loss to Queen's Park for not "passing forward to break lines" but Clement insists Rice is "a player I really believe in". (Sun), external

Clement will not walk away from the toughest period in his managerial career. (Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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After a bruising few days in which Philippe Clement has battled media and fan criticism, the Rangers manager admitted this has been the toughest period of his managerial career.

The Belgian has been dealing with the fall-out from Rangers' loss to Queen's Park in the Scottish Cup, while in the league they trail Celtic by 16 points before Sunday's game against Hearts.

"Yes, it is," said Clement, when asked if this was the hardest spell of his 13 years in management. "And for sure because of the last game, it's the most freaky one also, to lose that game.

"Because of that, with all the reactions, yes that's the toughest moment until now. But I'm not running away from it.

"I think it's the same as in Club Brugge where you need to win every game.

"But I didn't have freaky results like we had and I understand all the anger around that result."

A poor result against Hearts, who are yet to lose in 2025, would only add to the pressure but Clement is certain he can lift his players.

"[I plan] to speak with them, to see who needs what, to see what we need as a team, to learn from this last game where mistakes were made and things they did well," said the 50-year-old.

"And to focus on Hearts because it's a different game, it's a different opponent.

"And we need to show again what the team has shown the last weeks, this last period, where they played good games. That's what we need to show on Sunday."

The manager also defended his decision to replace 18-year-old Bailey Rice at half-time against Queen's Park, on the youngster's first professional start for Rangers.

"I know there is concern from people about Bailey being taken off and the effect it will be on him. I can say there's no reason to have any doubts about that.

"We had a meeting with Bailey like we do with other players, and it's always collectively and individually with players.

"Bailey was the first one who was not happy with his first half. It's normal, he's 18, the first start at Ibrox, he's a lifelong fan. There is a certain tension around that.

"He's a player really I believe in. I don't give easy chances to 18-year-olds in a big European game or to start games like that."

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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.

Former Chelsea director of football operations Mike Forde is heading up Rangers' review of their football operations. (Sun), external

Ex-Rangers centre-half Carlos Cuellar, who has completed his Uefa Pro Licence and is currently the manager of Real Murcia's B team, would like to return to Ibrox one day as team boss. (Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Ianis Hagi says Rangers is "not a happy place" after the humiliating Scottish Cup exit to Queen's Park consigned the club to a trophyless domestic season.

The defeat has also ramped up the pressure on manager Philippe Clement, whose side trail Premiership leaders Celtic by 13 points although are through to the Europa League last 16.

"Look, we're all in this together," said Romania midfielder Hagi.

"From the board to the kit manager, we're all in this together and we're not going to let anyone feel alone.

"It's not a happy place right now and we can't just hide behind curtains.

"It is that way and as a man and as a professional football player, if you want to perform at this club, you need to accept that and show it as soon as possible that you've learned what you've done wrong and then move forward and try to build in terms of going and have success in the near future."

Hagi conceded that the defeat by Queen's Park was "probably one of the worst days" of his career.

He said: "The disappointment was huge and unfortunately, as a football player, even though you don't want to, you sometimes have to go through these types of scenarios.

"It comes into my mind also the game against Iceland with Romania in 2020 when we had to win at home and we drew and we just missed out on the play-offs for the World Cup.

"There are those types of nights where you just go home and you just can't sleep for a couple of days."

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Manager Philippe Clement has stated his desire to stay and fight at Rangers as he comes under increasing pressure following the Scottish Cup exit to Queen's Park.

The manager was asked about his decision to stay at Ibrox last summer after expressing frustration at the lack of transfer funds.

"No [regrets], otherwise I would not be here." Clement said.

"I know why I made that decision. It's because of the synergy with the fans and because I know how great this place can be if you have success, if you win trophies.

"There is my hunger, my desire for all of that. That's a choice I made before I came compared with other teams who were interested at that moment and it's still the case here."

The Belgian is under intense scrutiny, with a video of fans' vitriolic reaction to the cup defeat going viral following Sunday's defeat.

"It was a really down moment, a hard moment, a moment that I understand all the reactions - but I know all these other reactions from the past and how great a place this can be," Clement said.

"My determination is day and night to make that story better, to get this consistency, what we had during our longer periods - but not long enough. That's what we need to build with this squad, to get this consistency every three days. That's what fans expect."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Philippe Clement has been speaking to the media before Rangers' Premiership trip to Hearts on Sunday.

Here are the key points from the under-pressure Ibrox boss:

• Clement says it has been "a long week" and one "full of frustrations" after the Scottish Cup exit to Queen's Park.

• He spoke to CEO Patrick Stewart after the match, but says he does this "after every game" so it was "nothing special" and adds "not one manager in the world has guarantees".

• Clement says the cup result did not reflect the game and he "didn't have any other signal of no backing" amid intense speculation about his future.

• The Rangers boss knows the cup defeat was "unacceptable" and left everyone at the club "devastated and sick" but now "we need to react".

• Speaking on the abuse he received as he left Ibrox last Sunday, he said "it hurts" and, while he did not say a line had been crossed, he referred to Stuart Kettlewell's exit from Motherwell a few weeks ago.

• Clement has no regrets about staying on when he could have walked last year and says his "determination is day and night to make that story better".

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Philippe Clement remaining as manager in the wake of the Scottish Cup exit to Queen's Park "speaks to where Rangers are at as a club", says former striker Rory Loy.

"No manager in Rangers history would ever have survived that result. They would have been gone by the Monday morning," Loy told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"And it just speaks to where Rangers are at. Poor mismanagement in the club means financially they can't afford to let them go.

"And it's a result that will live forever in the memory of the Rangers fans because you still talk about Berwick, Dumbarton, these types of fixtures.

"These are decades and decades ago. And this one supersedes it because it was at Ibrox. And I think it's a sign of the rise and fall of Rangers that they're not in a position where they're able to relieve them of their duties."

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

Ibrox CEO Patrick Stewart has insisted Rangers' decision to stick by Philippe Clement is not driven by the £1.2m it would reportedly cost to sack him. (The Herald)., external

Belgian coaching legend Georges Leekens says the Ibrox board would be mad not to let Clement finish the job he has started at Rangers. (Scottish Sun), external

Ex-Rangers striker Martyn Waghorn, who arrived at Ibrox alongside former Wigan Athletic team-mate James Tavernier, has announced his retirement. (Daily Record), external

Former England and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch says the only player who scared him in his career was ex-Rangers midfielder Kevin Muscat. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.