How Hearts missed the opportunity to record result at Rangers

Positives can be found in both performances but there was more disappointment after Sunday's defeat to Rangers than the loss on Thursday to Heidenheim.

Part of this is down to the league position Hearts are in and their desperation for points. Another reason was their inability to trouble an out-of-sorts Rangers more than they did.

Craig Cairns looks back on Sunday's 1-0 defeat in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox.

Hearts failed to create many clear-cut chances (Image: StatsBomb)

Brave shape

After a back three of sorts versus Heidenheim, Neil Critchley reverted to a back four for the trip to Ibrox.

It was again slightly lopsided, with Daniel Oyegoke – one of four changes – less advanced at right-back than James Penrice on the opposite side.

Like he did on Thursday night, the left-back would look to get forward whenever possible, often looking for Blair Spittal. The duo linking on the left appears to be a key weapon in Hearts arsenal at the moment.

Spittal played narrower than Alan Forrest on the other side, allowing Penrice space to attack.

Hearts' shape was slightly lopsided (Image: StatsBomb) It meant that, rather than starting on one of the wings as many expected, Kenneth Vargas started up front, playing on the shoulder of the last defender – evidenced by him almost capitalising on a slack back pass from John Souttar in the first half.

He was nominally part of a front two with Lawrence Shankland, though the Hearts skipper was tasked with dropping deep to link with the Hearts midfield.

Shankland performed well in the role though his goal drought continued, largely down to him playing further away from the Rangers goals. After going into the game with more shots in the Scottish Premiership than anyone else this season, the 29-year-old failed to register a single shot on target on Sunday.

His best moment – via a punt from Craig Gordon – came just after half-time when his turn on the spin and quick through ball sent Vargas one-on-one with Jack Butland.

Shankland was responsible for Hearts getting into the final third on a number of occasions, the quality was lacking when they got there.

Overall, there were some lovely passages of play from Hearts but only five attempts on goal.

(Image: StatsBomb) At the other end, they largely kept Rangers quiet after the goal other than when substitute Neraysho Kasanwirjo cracked the bar in the closing stages. Even then, it was when the away side were pressing for an equaliser.

In the second half especially, Hearts were excellent at breaking up the home side’s play, making the Ibrox crowd more and more restless.

Unfortunately, they were guilty of giving the ball away too much themselves in a sometimes scrappy second half.

A poor goal to lose

While Hearts deserve some credit for how they responded, the game was ultimately lost from conceding in the first few minutes.

An identity is starting to emerge regardless of shape or personnel and part of this involves stages in the game when Hearts press high to force the opposition into errors in their own half.

It worked so well in the win over Omonia Nicosia and versus Heidenheim, despite the result. But the Hearts attack and midfield was bypassed far too easily for Cyriel Dessers’ goal on Sunday.

Nicolas Raskin receives the ball from Jack Butland (Image: Wyscout) The move is started when Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland finds midfielder Nicolas Raskin. The Belgian then runs to the halfway line unopposed before playing a one-two with Nedim Bajrami who drops into the half space.

Raskin plays a one-two with Bajrami (Image: Wyscout) Raskin then finds Jefte on the left who in turn passes to Bajrami at the edge of the Hearts box.

Jefte finds Bajrami on the edge of the box (Image: Wyscout) Even from there, the defending can be better but the most disappointing aspect was the ease with which Rangers got upfield. After Butland releases the ball, it takes four passes before they are at the edge of the Hearts box.

Praise is deserved for the response and for how the Jam Tarts went toe-to-toe with Rangers at a venue they have not won at in more than 10 years. 

However, it was uncharacteristic of what we've seen from Critchley's side so far. Not just the manner of the goal but that it was conceded so early. All against a side that was there for the taking.