Rangers blow Hearts away at Tynecastle as an impressive 3-0 victory in Edinburgh exemplifies the progress of Michael Beale.
The incoming Gers boss has now made it ten wins from his first eleven matches and the Ibrox side continue to go from strength to strength under the ex-QPR man’s stewardship.
Ahead of a potential banana skin in the capital, all the talk was about how Rangers might find a trip to Scotland’s third force challenging with Hearts themselves unbeaten in ten matches.
But from the first whistle Rangers played with a verve, freedom and intent which is becoming synonymous with the side under the Englishman.
Rangers at present are already looking a long way away from the turgid, tepid and uninspiring outfit they were for large periods of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s reign.
Rangers blow Hearts away at Tynecastle
From the first whistle Rangers were bang at it in Edinburgh and whilst an Alfredo Morelos double and Malik Tillman strike will grab the headlines, 3-0 genuinely flattered a lacklustre Hearts.
Excitingly, it also looks like this Rangers team didn’t even reach anywhere near top gear and the best is yet to come.
Alfredo Morelos could’ve had Rangers in front after only a matter of minutes, but mistimed his run to be caught offside from a sliding Sakala cross.
It was a busy night for VAR and this incident was the first of several which would see the technology called into action.
The resurgent Colombian would however make no mistake with his head to open the scoring moments later, connecting with a dinked Ryan Kent cross.
Fashion Sakala was starting alongside Morelos for Rangers and the two were combining very well at Tynecastle, with VAR called into action again to deny the Zambian goal after a fine slotted effort.
Malik Tillman would however get Rangers 2-0 in front after a fine set piece routine resulted in Connor Goldson knocking it back across goal and the Bayern loanee firing the ball home.
In the second half, Hearts would offer a little more resistance but Rangers were too determined and too strong in an impressive team performance.
Ryan Kent looked to have been fouled out to earn Rangers a penalty, but after a lengthy VAR check was booked for simulation after appearing to leave his leg trailing in the Hearts penalty box.
Fashion Sakala would also be subject to another VAR call, with the pacey Zambian caught offside again as he finished calmly.
To round off the scoring, Alfredo Morelos would find himself on the end of a fine Fashion Sakala ball across the goal, the strike also subject to a drawn out review by the VAR team.
Michael Beale’s Rangers starting to click
This doesn’t tell the entire story of what was an impressive Rangers display v Hearts with much of the performance summing up the progress made under Michael Beale.
Rangers played with aggression, identity and purpose from the off, with the entire team playing in tandem and looking much more confident and defined.
Connor Goldson and Ben Davies looked unshakable, Borna Barisic and James Tavernier were athletic and purposeful options at wing-back all night, John Lundstram and Glen Kamara were relentless in their recoveries and progressive passing.
Malik Tillman continues to get those numbers and show creative intelligence to link midfield and attack, whilst Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos are players reborn with Fashion Sakala a genuine nuisance for opposition defenders.
Allan McGregor too – who turned 41 this week amid much scrutiny on the goalkeeper position – was assured and controlling between the sticks, impressing in the few moments he was called into action.
This was the most complete Rangers performance on the Michael Beale era and the future certainly looks bright as the club record another impressive victory over Hearts.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Raskin has a message for Rangers supporters.
