Jack Butland astonishes in ‘out of this world’ moment in Rangers win v Hearts
Jack Butland played a starring role as Philippe Clement’s Rangers side got back to winning ways against Hearts on Sunday.
The Gers came into the clash at Tynecastle Park on 16 February off the back of a shock Scottish Cup exit to Queen’s Park, with the manager under tremendous pressure from frustrated fans.
Despite that, a Jamie McCart own goal gave the Light Blues the best of starts away from home, but it could have been a very different story had Hearts taken their chances.
Both Elton Kabangu and Lawrence Shankland had multiple chances to hit the back of the net, only being denied by red-hot Butland in between the sticks.
While Michael Steinwender managed to eventually beat the goalkeeper, Vaclav Cerny and another McCart own goal saw the Gers take home a 3-1 win.
Jack Butland makes the difference in Rangers victory
Speaking live via BBC Sportsound [16 February, 12:26pm], John Robertson said: “It’s three chances for Kabangu and three saves from Butland. He should have had no chance with two of them.
“And the third is out of this world. I’m jumping. It’s going right into the far post and the fingertips put it past the post. Hearts have been denied three times by Jack Butland, and the third is just absolutely outstanding.”
Had the 31-year-old not been involved at Tynecastle Park, Clement’s side might not have been one goal to the good at the half-time break.
Philippe Clement secures vital victory at Tynecastle Park
Patrick Stewart has been under immense pressure to make a change of manager, no more than after the Gers’ embarrassing Scottish Cup defeat at this time last week.
The CEO has stuck to his guns, however, entrusting the Belgian to get back to winning ways after the whole of Scottish football was sent shockwaves, and he just about managed that.
Clement really only has his goalkeeper to thank for a number of incredible saves at both ends of the pitch, denying two goal-hungry strikers in Neil Critchley’s team.
While the result will have no lasting impact on the Scottish Premiership title race, with the Light Blues still battling in Europe, keeping a positive run going across all competitions can be vital.
Advancing in the Europa League might be the only thing keeping Clement in his job right now, much to the frustration of the supporters, but Stewart does not look in any rush to change managers.
That has forced the fingers to now be pointing at the Ibrox hierarchy, unsurprisingly. Many will choose to overlook the result at Tynecastle Park, with the football quite tough to watch at times.