Hearts extend lead at top of Scottish Premiership with win over Rangers

Hearts extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership after seeing off Rangers by two goals to one at Tynecastle.

It was Bojan Miovski who looked to have opened the scoring for the visitors after ten minutes when he latched on to a header from Emmanuel Fernandez, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Rangers had the better of the chances in the first half hour, while Alexandros Kyziridis provided a threat for Hearts down the right-hand side.

A well-worked corner by Claudio Braga and Kyziridis allowed Stuart Findlay to fire home a header after 37 minutes from a whipped cross as Tynecastle erupted.

Moments later, Hearts were in dreamland as Lawrence Shankland blasted a low effort from the tightest of angles past Jack Butland after a knock-on from Braga.

The league leaders continued their momentum into the second half, with Braga flashing at a few chances before Shankland fluffed a gilt-edged chance on the hour to make it 3-0.

Rangers made a number of changes in a bid to bring themselves level, but couldn’t find a way through the Hearts defence.

Shankland forced a save from Butland as the home side broke away with pressure mounting on Rangers, before Frankie Kent couldn’t put his header on target.

Both teams went back and forth searching for the third goal of the game, and Youssef Chermiti managed to nab a consolation goal at the end after a Hearts defensive mishap.

However, the Jambos made it five league games in a row unbeaten before they face Hibs in the Edinburgh derby on Saturday, while Rangers take on Motherwell at Ibrox.