Hearts vs Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

The Scottish Premiership's 2nd and third-placed sides volition conscionable connected Wednesday erstwhile Hearts big Rangers astatine Tynecastle Park.

The hosts are 3rd successful the standings with 19 points, 4 points down the second-placed visitors.

Match preview

Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken, appointed during the summertime pursuing Derek McInnes' departure, endured a challenging commencement to beingness astatine Tynecastle Park, losing each of his archetypal 4 games astatine the helm. 

However, the manager has superbly turned Hearts' fortunes astir successful the consequent weeks, signaling 8 wins, 5 draws and suffering conscionable 3 defeats successful their past 16 outings. 

Six of those triumphs person travel successful the Scottish Premiership, helping assistance Hearts to 3rd successful the standings with 19 points aft 10 matches, leaving them 4 points wide of fourth-placed Dundee United and 4 down second-placed Rangers. 

The Jambos' attacking output has undoubtedly been their biggest spot successful the league this term, with 22 goals scored successful 10 matches meaning they are the second-highest scorers successful the Scottish Premiership - lone down Celtic (25). 

Hearts' defence has besides been a spot passim a bulk of the campaign, conceding 8 goals successful 9 Scottish Premiership matches, though they did endure a humiliating 7-1 decision to Celtic connected matchday nine, leaving them with a grounds of 15 conceded successful 10 league fixtures.

Vrancken's broadside followed that nonaccomplishment with a 2-0 decision to Trabzonspor successful the Conference League, but they managed to bounce backmost with a 2-0 triumph implicit Motherwell astatine the weekend, giving them a much-needed boost up of facing the high-flying Rangers. 

Rangers caput into Wednesday's fixture enjoying a superb nine-game undefeated tally crossed each competitions, featuring 8 victories and lone 1 gully during that time. 

The Gers really endured a lacklustre commencement to the word nether erstwhile Hearts brag McInnes, failing to triumph immoderate of their opening 4 games crossed each competitions. 

However, a 5-1 triumph implicit St Mirren successful the League Cup 2nd circular sparked a sizeable upturn successful form, with Rangers having won nine, drawn 1 and mislaid 1 of the adjacent 11 matches.

Thanks to that stunning form, Rangers person climbed to 2nd successful the Scottish Premiership and way leaders Celtic by conscionable 4 points, and McInnes volition beryllium anxious to enactment connected their Old Firm rivals' heels by securing different 3 points connected Wednesday. 

The Gers volition trust connected their antiaircraft spot to shutout Heats' prolific attack, with Rangers conceding conscionable 7 league goals, portion their grounds of 17 scored successful 10 matches is lone bettered by Hearts and Celtic. 

Rangers volition besides gully assurance from their unbeaten distant grounds successful the league, winning 3 and drafting 2 of their 5 matches connected the roadworthy successful the Scottish Premiership.

Hearts have, however, won each of the past 2 clashes betwixt these 2 teams astatine Tynecastle Park.

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

Hearts signifier (all competitions):

Rangers Scottish Premiership form:

Rangers signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Hearts are contending with respective wounded issues successful this match, with Blair Spittal, Christian Borchgrevink, Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, Oisin McEntee, Stuart Findlay, Ageu and Tom Renaud each unavailable.

James Wilson, Claudio Braga, Josh McPake and Calvin Miller person contributed heavy to Hearts' awesome attacking output, and they should each commencement connected Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Rangers are acceptable to beryllium without erstwhile Hearts duo Lawrence Shankland and Cameron Devlin, portion Daisuke Yokota, Jose Cifuentes, Ross McCrorie and Youssef Chermiti are besides unavailable. 

Ryan Don Naderi has scored 5 goals successful 9 league matches this term, and the guardant should proceed his concern with Kevin Kelsy, who has 3 goals successful six league games, connected Wednesday.

Hearts imaginable starting lineup:

Reus; Mato, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Kingsley; Miller, Magnusson, Altena, McPake; Wilson, Braga

Rangers imaginable starting lineup:

Pandur; Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice; Raskin, Neil; Bouanani, Naderi, Kim; Kelsy

We say: Hearts 1-2 Rangers

Rangers are enjoying a fantastic tally heading into this match, and portion Hearts are flawless astatine location this word with 4 league wins, the visitors should person capable to unafraid the win.

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