I watched Rangers draw at Hearts and reckon big change must be made to team as key failing proves costly

Olwethu Makhanya’s 89-minute header stopped the hosts bridging the four-point gap between the two teams and earned Rangers manager Derek McInnes a point on his return to Hearts.

Mark Atkinson was at Tynecastle to cover the match for The Scotsman and picks out his talking points:

A sign of Rangers improvement

It was so nearly a case of deja-vu for Rangers at Tynecastle. Back in May, they took the lead in Gorgie, went in 1-0 at the break and were quickly overhauled by Hearts, eventually losing 2-1. The same scenario was on the cards after Claudio Braga and Calvin Miller put the hosts ahead after 57 minutes following Kevin Kelsy’s early opener.

Rangers still have some glaring failings but under McInnes, there is more belief and fortitude. They seized upon Hearts’ fatigue in the closing stages and Makhanya’s header so nearly sparked a barnstorming finish. Right on full time, Dujon Sterling missed a glorious chance to snatch the victory. A draw, to be fair, was probably about right.

Rangers are now ten games unbeaten - eight wins and two draws. They have forged a team spirit and resilience in that period which came to the fore at Tynecastle. It was another indicator that the Ibrox side are going in the right direction, even if they didn’t manage to capitalise on leaders Celtic dropping points at the same time against Dundee United.

Hearts need to be smarter

Hearts are an enjoyable team to watch under head coach Wouter Vrancken and they carried attacking threat against Rangers all evening. Even without eight first-team players, they showed good energy levels and committed men forward at every opportunity. In the midst of a gruelling schedule, a 2-2 draw against Rangers may not feel like a disaster.

Their response at the start of the second half threatened to blow Rangers away and there will be regret within Hearts that they couldn’t find a third goal. They also need to cut out the mistakes that are costing them so dearly in big matches.

The opening goal came from midfielder Laurent Mendy being cheaply robbed by Ryan Naderi. The leveller was the concession of a free-kick by Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who was too slow to meet Findlay Curtis. The defending of Badredine Bouanani’s delivery wasn’t great either.

In the big games, the individual errors are punished. The hope is that in time, Hearts will become more secure under Vrancken - but this was a match they could have closed out.

When will Hearts lose at Tynecastle?

Hearts are now 551 days without defeat at Tynecastle in the Premiership. In that period, only Falkirk have emerged with a win - and that came on penalties in the Scottish Cup. The likes of Celtic, Rangers, Benfica and Sturm Graz have stumbled in Gorgie.

It is an extraordinary home record and Tynecastle really now is a fortress. It was at its hostile and intimidating best against Rangers, with former manager Derek McInnes given plenty of boos and jeers from the supporters.

Injured pair Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin were also barracked as they took their place behind the away dugout. Last season’s efforts are long forgotten. They are the enemy and their presence merely stoked the flames of an already fiery encounter.

Hearts welcome Monaco and Celtic to Tynecastle in November. They will do well to keep up this seriously impressive Tynecastle form.

Selection issues for Rangers

McInnes admitted after the match that his forward line is inexperienced and needs to learn how to hold the ball up better. Naderi and Kelsy had some good moments in attack, chiefly the opening goal, but they have to do more when trying to earn territory and breathing space. That should come with greater game-time together. It is unlikely the partnership will be broken up for Saturday’s Premier Sports semi-final against Aberdeen.

At Tynecastle, creative forward Minsu Kim was quiet from the left flank and he appears more influential from a central position. Winger Djeidi Gassama was hooked not long after the restart and didn’t look enamoured with McInnes’ decision. The manager was justified - Gassama still doesn’t have enough end product to be deemed a man that must be on the pitch at all time.

He is also coming under threat from Bouanani, who changed the game when he came on for Gassama. He has a sweet left foot, a box of tricks and did more in the final half-hour than Gassama did in double that time. He nearly scored and delivered the cross for Makhanya to score.

A loan signing from Stuttgart, Bouanani is starting to get to grips with life in Scotland and has the toolbox to be a devastating wide player for Rangers. At Hampden, it would be a shock should he not be elevated into the starting XI.

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