Hearts opened up the 2024/25 William Hill Premiership marketing campaign with a degree in opposition to Rangers.
The Jambos impressed all through the Tynecastle encounter, with Yan Dhanda hitting the woodwork, however couldn’t discover the elusive aim that the efficiency merited.
Head Coach Steven Naismith named three new signings within the beginning line up, with Dhanda, James Penrice and Gerald Taylor all given the nod, whereas there was a spot on the bench for Malachi Boateng.
The Jambos had been first to threaten, inside two minutes. Penrice floated a ball into the field for Dhanda to go into the trail of Lawrence Shankland, however his snapshot was held by Jack Butland.
A improbable Butland save denied Hearts the opener 5 minutes later. Barrie McKay despatched Penrice into the field and his ferocious left-foot drive was turned across the put up by the Rangers keeper.
The Jambos went agonisingly shut quickly after. Taylor’s lung-bursting run took him into the field earlier than he discovered Shankland, however his shot was deflected vast of the goal.
Instantly after, the boys in maroon went even nearer. Dhanda created area for himself on the fringe of the field earlier than curling an effort smack-bang off the crossbar.
Zander Clark was at his greatest to disclaim Rangers on the 20-minute mark. Connor Barron was afforded area to get to the sting of the field earlier than hanging, however the Scotland keeper flung himself to his left to show the ball across the put up.
Quickly after, Cyriel Dessers did properly to take down a ball contained in the Hearts field however he might solely carry his try over the goal with Clark bearing down on him.
An incisive Hearts breakaway noticed McKay go shut on 25 minutes. Kenneth Vargas lower throughout the Rangers half earlier than feeding Dhanda. He teed up McKay simply exterior the field however his swept his shot over the bar.
With 5 minutes till half-time, the guests created an opportunity after placing the ball into the Hearts field for Dessers to take down and hit, however it was straight at Clark who pushed it away.
The woodwork got here to Hearts’ rescue seven minutes into the restart. Dessers met a ball into the field and linked with head, solely to bullet it off the underside of the crossbar.
Clark was known as into motion once more after the hour mark. Tom Lawrence hit a half-volley from 18-yards however the Jambos stopper sprung to tip the ball over the bar.
Up the opposite finish, Shankland went near breaking the impasse. McKay carried the ball into the Rangers field earlier than feeding the striker, he danced away from two white shirts earlier than drilling low, just for Butland to make a cease and smother the rebound because it spun again in the direction of the aim.
The Jambos then as soon as once more practically opened the scoring when McKay’s nook was met by Frankie Kent however his header was turned narrowly over his personal aim by James Tavernier.
Kye Rowles got here to the rescue with 4 minutes remaining after Rabbi Matondo headed throughout aim and in the direction of the road however the Aussie internationalist was readily available to clear.
A formidable opening day efficiency by the Jam Tarts, who head to Dundee subsequent Saturday for matchday two.
Hearts: Clark, Kent, Grant (Boateng, 84’), Shankland ©, McKay (Forrest, 78’), Devlin, Rowles, Dhanda (Spittal, 65’), Penrice, Vargas (Oda, 84’), Taylor (Oyegoke, 84’). Subs: Gordon, Kingsley, Halkett, Boyce.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Yilmaz, Souttar, Cortes (Matondo, 48’), Barron (Dowell, 82’), Dessers, Diomande, Lawrence, Wright (Cerny, 60’), Davies (Balogun, 60’). Subs: Kelly, Jefte, King, McKinnon, Danilo.