3 talking points as Rangers blow Hearts away with Colak and Morelos competition heating up

Red-hot Rangers striker Antonio Colak sent the Ibrox side back to the top of the table as his deadly double sparked a crushing win over 10-man Hearts.

The Croatian ace made it 11 goals in just 14 appearances for Gio van Bronckhorst ’s team with two clinical finishes. Substitute Alfredo Morelos would have been disappointed to start on the bench but he made the most of his half-hour run out after replacing Colak as he buried his 10th goal in nine outings against the Jambos.

Hearts were already down to 10 men by that point after Cammy Devlin got his marching orders for a shocking stamp on Rabbi Matondo just before half-time. And a miserable day for the Gorgie outfit was completed in stoppage time as Ryan Kent rifled home his first Premiership goal since December. The Rangers support who followed their team along the M8 were treated to a rare look at Ben Davies as the former Liverpool centre-back returned six weeks out on from his last appearance against St Johnstone.

Matondo was also given a chance to win over his doubters as he started on the right wing, while Antonio Colak got the nod to start in front Alfredo Morelos. Robbie Neilson was again without key defenders Craig Halkett and Kye Rowles as well as striker Liam Boyce but Steven Humphrys was recalled as Andy Halliday dropped out of the team that beat Motherwell last time out.

The hosts could have found themselves climbing above their guests from Glasgow had they mustered a two-goal win. Instead, they slumped to a painful defeat that means they’ve now shipped 16 goals in their last five clashes with Rangers.

They had a couple of early warning as Davies twice came close from James Tavernier corners. But Rangers’ determined start paid off six minutes in as Colak