Hearts 0-2 Rangers: Clinical visitors extend Van Bronckhorst's winning league start

Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers extended manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst's winning league start after a blistering first-half attacking display earned victory at Hearts.

Alfredo Morelos slotted an early opener before Joe Aribo slammed in a quickfire second within four devastating minutes.

The hosts - who had Josh Ginnelly dismissed late on - had plenty of chances, but could not make them count.

The result stretches Rangers' lead to seven points, while Hearts stay third.

Celtic, who have played a game fewer, can narrow the gap back to four when they welcome Motherwell later on Sunday.

The defeat is the first Robbie Neilson's side have suffered at Tynecastle this season. On another day, their unbeaten home run may still be intact, but the Hearts boss will rue a lack of ruthless finishing from his players and an inspired Allan McGregor in the Rangers goal.

Rangers had failed to win on their last three visits to Tynecastle, heightening the challenge for Van Bronckhorst's men, which the Dutchman was keen to highlight before the match.

And his side were almost chasing the game early in a frantic start after a simple ball forward caught the away defence out, resulting in Liam Boyce forcing McGregor to acrobatically tip a lobbed attempt over.

Rangers' backline looked ropey, but the same could not be said for their attack, which was electric.

The Hearts defence simply could not deal with a scintillating visiting frontline, who broke the deadlock when Fashion Sakala breezed pass Cammy Devlin and cut back to Morelos to sweep home in the ninth minute.

Sakala should have doubled the lead, drilling an effort on the volley from the right of the box narrowly past the far post.

But Aribo made no mistake as the champions notched a second goal four minutes later.

Connor Goldson picked out the midfielder on the run with a stunning long-range pass, which was plucked out of the sky by Aribo and smashed low across Craig Gordon.

Neilson's side were still throwing punches, though, as Boyce and Ginnelly both had strikes whistle past either post.

A fine pass from Devlin then sent Boyce in behind and he forced McGregor into another smart stop.

The home side continued to press after the break, with Gary Mackay-Steven forcing McGregor to tip over after a well-worked corner and a Ginnelly cross clipping Calvin Bassey before striking the bar.

Rangers sacrificed a lot of the ball in the second half but could have put the game beyond reach when Scott Arfield, Sakala and Morelos all had shots thwarted by Scotland keeper Craig Gordon, with the latter's effort falling back to Arfield who dragged an attempt wide.

But failure to take at least one of those four chances left the door open for Hearts as Mackay-Steven cut back to Boyce - via a deflection off Goldson's hand - who skied over from close range.

Free-kick specialist Stephen Kingsley then saw a stunning set-piece attempt crash off the bar, but the home side lost their discipline soon after.

Ginnelly, booked earlier, got involved in a needless confrontation with Borna Barisic and saw a second yellow for his troubles.

But even with 10 men, Hearts still threatened as substitute Ben Woodburn forced McGregor to save down to his left.

Boyce attempted to blast home the rebound but was again denied by the Rangers keeper, who sprung up instantly to make another superb save. It ensured his side travelled back to Glasgow with a fourth clean sheet in six games.

More to follow.

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Heart of Midlothian

Squad number1Player nameGordon

Squad number15Player nameMoore

Squad number4Player nameSouttar

Squad number19Player nameHalkett

Squad number3Player nameKingsley

Squad number5Player nameHaring

Squad number14Player nameDevlin

Squad number30Player nameGinnelly

Squad number18Player nameMcKay

Squad number11Player nameMackay-Steven

Squad number10Player nameBoyce

Squad number9Player nameWoodburn

Squad number21Player nameGnanduillet

Rangers

Squad number1Player nameMcGregor

Squad number2Player nameTavernier

Squad number6Player nameGoldson

Squad number3Player nameBassey

Squad number31Player nameBarisic

Squad number18Player nameKamara

Squad number17Player nameAribo

Squad number30Player nameSakala

Squad number37Player nameArfield

Squad number14Player nameKent

Squad number20Player nameMorelos

Squad number4Player nameLundstram

Squad number23Player nameWright

Line-ups

Hearts

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Gordon

15Moore4Souttar19Halkett3Kingsley

5Haring14Devlin

30Ginnelly18McKay11Mackay-Steven

10Boyce

Substitutes

Rangers

Formation 4-2-3-1

1McGregor

2Tavernier6Goldson3Bassey31Barisic

18Kamara17Aribo

30Sakala37Arfield14Kent

20Morelos

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 0, Rangers 2.

Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 0, Rangers 2.

Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Craig Gordon.

Attempt saved. Ryan Kent (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Foul by Craig Halkett (Heart of Midlothian).

Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian).

Joe Aribo (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Calvin Bassey (Rangers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Glen Kamara.

Attempt saved. Peter Haring (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom right corner.

Corner, Rangers. Conceded by John Souttar.

Foul by Ben Woodburn (Heart of Midlothian).

Scott Wright (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Armand Gnanduillet replaces Cameron Devlin.

Ryan Kent (Rangers) is shown the yellow card.

Offside, Rangers. James Tavernier tries a through ball, but Ryan Kent is caught offside.

Attempt saved. Taylor Moore (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Barrie McKay with a cross.

Attempt saved. Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Allan McGregor.

Attempt saved. Ben Woodburn (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

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