Rangers v Hearts: Neil Lennon predicts winner in Scottish Cup clash
Former Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon has predicted Rangers to secure a victory v Hearts in the Scottish Cup clash on Sunday, 21 April.
Lennon believes that the game at Hampden Park may go to extra time but fancies Philippe Clement’s men due to their strength in depth.
However, he has acknowledged that this is not the same team that put five goals past Hearts at Ibrox back in February.
He told the PLZ Soccer Show on 19 April at 22:56: “I think Rangers will do it. It could go to extra time and maybe the strength in depth of the squad might help them out with that.
“If they can keep Shankland quiet, you know, they’ve beaten them 5-0 at Ibrox. They’ve done well against Hearts this season. They know how to play against them but again, the circumstances currently are different.
“I think the one horse is an unbelievable price in a two horse race. I think Rangers might just have the extra quality to get over the line.”
Rangers have to beat Hearts and keep the pressure up on Celtic
Gers face immense pressure going into the clash against Hearts as they are desperate to secure a victory to maintain their hopes of winning another piece of silverware this season.
Having crashed out of Europe and currently trailing Celtic in the league, the League Cup is all they’ve won thus far.
A loss would not only be a significant blow to their pride but also to their ambitions of challenging Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football.
The stakes are particularly high for Clement’s side, as a failure to win would mean they could end the season with just one piece of silverware, a result that would be seen as a disappointment given their aspirations to compete with Celtic on all fronts.
In addition to the external pressures, Rangers’ recent performances and results have raised questions about their ability to compete consistently at the highest level.
Their squad depth and their previous success against Hearts this season provide some grounds for optimism.
However, the pressure to perform and deliver a victory cannot be overstated, as a loss would not only result in a trophy-less season but also cast a shadow over the team’s ability to challenge Celtic in the future.
In other Rangers news, Heart and Hand have issued a verdict on James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and John Lundstram departing Ibrox this summer.
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