Hearts boss Steven Naismith makes Rangers admission ahead of Scottish Premiership showdown
Hearts manager Steven Naismith admits he is eager for his side to put up more of a fight in their latest meeting with Rangers on Wednesday (6 December).
The Gers have defeated Hearts twice – in the Scottish Premiership and then the Viaplay Cup – over the past five weeks
Speaking ahead of their latest encounter, Naismith says he has been impressed by what he has seen from Rangers since Philippe Clement succeeded Michael Beale in October.
“It will be a tough game,” he is quoted as saying by the Daily Record [4 December]. “Obviously since the new manager’s come in, they have definitely turned the corner in terms of their mindset.
“I’m pretty sure the manager has said it’s going to take time but their consistency of getting results, even the draws and things like that, they are picking up points. So, that’s changed from earlier on in the season.
“We’ve had two opportunities to play them recently, we understand how they play and what they try and do in the games and that they are a real threat.
“But being at home, we want to put in a performance that’s more threatening than the one in the semi-final.”
Tough match
Rangers have certainly had Hearts’ number this season, with their league meeting at Ibrox at the end of October a game that will live long in the memory.
The Light Blues trailed heading into second-half stoppage time, yet they came away with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from James Tavernier and Danilo.
Tavernier was also on target a couple of times in the more recent Viaplay Cup semi-final tie in Edinburgh – one of those a penalty – as was Scott Wright in a 3-1 win.
Clement will be after more of the same in midweek as the Gers look to register a seventh win in eight league matches and keep the pressure on leaders Celtic.
Hearts have themselves been in fine league form, winning four in a row to see Naismith land the Manager of the Month gong for November, so it should be a very tough contest at Tynecastle.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has raised “concern” over a development at Ibrox.