Youssef Chermiti stars, Dujon Sterling fails Danny Rohl audition – Rangers player ratings vs Hearts
Rangers secured a vital 4-2 win against Hearts on Sunday.
Danny Rohl‘s side went two points behind the Scottish Premiership leaders with victory at Ibrox on 15 February.
The visitors had taken the lead twice in the first half in Govan, but a Michael Steinwender own goal and a Youssef Chermiti strike brought the Gers in level at the break.
The former Everton forward powered a header home and then finished under Alexander Schwolow in the second half to give the hosts all three points and send the supporters into pandemonium.
Chermiti stars in sensational Ibrox turnaround
It was looking like a miserable afternoon for Rangers when Marc Leonard put the visitors in the lead, and then Claudio Braga restored it after the own goal.
However, Chermiti popped up his first-ever career hat-trick to put Rohl’s side in a brilliant position in the race for the championship.
He had a total of seven shots, with four on target, and was a handful all afternoon, having 11 touches in the opposition box, per Sofascore.
The Portugal Under-21 international also created one chance for his teammates, and was willing to help out defensively too.
He made three tackles and three recoveries, and also won a total of 14 duels, with seven of 16 on the ground and seven of a possible 10 in the air.
Chermiti seems to have a knack for popping up with important strikes, and it was no different on this occasion.
Dujon Sterling struggles as Rangers win
Dujon Sterling started over club captain James Tavernier, but he did not make the required impression for Rohl’s side.
He failed to create a single chance for his teammates going forward and was accurate with just one of four crosses, for a success rate of just 25 per cent.
Defensively, he made just one tackle, one clearance, one interception and three recoveries and was replaced by the skipper in the 58th minute.
In terms of duels, he won the only aerial battle that he contested, but was successful with just three of his seven on the ground, for a ratio of 43 per cent.
Tavernier’s contract situation may have Sterling in a prime position to take over, but he did not prove that he is the man for the job in his audition against McInnes’ side.
How Rangers players rated vs Hearts
Jack Butland – 5
Dujon Sterling – 4 (off for Tavernier, 58)
John Souttar – 6
Emmanuel Fernandez – 6
Tuur Rommens – 6
Nicolas Raskin – 6
Tochi Chukwuani – 7
Andreas Skov Olsen – 6 (off for Antman, 80)
Mikey Moore – 6 (off for Gassama, 88)
Youssef Chermiti – 9
Ryan Naderi – 6 (off for Diomande, 80)
Substitutes:
James Tavernier – 5
Oliver Antman – 5
Mohamed Diomande – 5
Djeidi Gassama – N/A
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