Michael Stewart shocked live on BBC as Ridvan Yilmaz ‘exploited ruthlessly’ by Hearts in ‘unbelievable’ Rangers first half
Ridvan Yilmaz was “exploited ruthlessly” by Hearts as the visitors took an early lead against Rangers at Ibrox, according to Michael Stewart.
The former Jambos player reacted live on BBC Sportsound, as per the BBC Sport liveblog, to an “unbelievable start” for the visitors as Lawrence Shankland headed back across Jack Butland in the fifth minute, after Yilmaz was caught under a deep cross.
Alex Cochrane swung in a ball from the left when James Tavernier didn’t close him down quickly enough and the Turkish Gers full-back was unable to get anything on it as the visiting striker directed a nice header home.
Stewart said: “Hearts have had an unbelievable start. The height of Ridvan Yilmaz is exploited ruthlessly and it is a brilliant header by Lawrence Shankland.
“Really well worked goal from Hearts and expertly finished off.”
Worry
Yilmaz’s unavailability for the trip to Sparta Prague was a problem in midweek thanks to the injury to Borna Barisic and with Michael Beale seen fit to exclude him from the European squad.
But having a specialist left-back in the line-up against Steven Naismith’s men didn’t prove to be of much benefit early at the weekend as Shankland was effectively unchallenged at the back-post.
The Scottish striker has been short of goals this season after scoring for fun last year but he showed no signs of being off form at Ibrox as he put his side ahead.
Yilmaz’s height will always work against him in the air whatever his merits when the ball is on the ground, and it was shown as clear as day for the opener.
If he can stay fit and available for long enough to ever put together a run in the side he might be able to establish himself as the starter over Barisic based on his all-round game.
But it won’t work in his favour for an unavoidable weakness to have been shown up in an important game at a time when his new manager is assessing the merits of his squad.
The left-back position continues to be a problem for Rangers, through a combination of middling performances and regular injuries to Yilmaz, and now Barisic and Dujon Sterling, and the early evidence against Hearts won’t have given anyone much confidence that the answer is available.
In other Rangers news, a bid has already been mooted for the star of the first half with Philippe Clement already clued up.