How Hearts can pile on Rangers misery as Neil Critchley admits 'it's about time we change' hoodoo

Neil Critchley believes Hearts’ new boys can help shatter the Jambos’ five-year winless run against Rangers and pile the agony on Philippe Clement.

The Jambos haven’t tasted victory in the last 17 meetings stretching back to February 2020 under Daniel Stendel. But with Clement under severe pressure after Rangers’ Scottish Cup shocker against Queen’s Park, Critchley is confident his side can add to the Ibrox club’s woes. January signing Elton Kabangu has struck five goals in his last four games while Jamie McCart has yet to taste defeat in six outings. Hearts haven’t lost in eight across all competitions. And Critchley hopes the fact his new boys, including Michael Steinwender, Sander Kartum and Harry Milne, don’t have scar tissue from their rotten run against Gers can help end the pain.

He said: “It's been a few years since we've beaten Rangers. So it's about time we change that. We're at home and we're in good form. So, we're going into it with positive feelings. We're going to have to be at the best, the best version of ourselves, if we're going to get a positive result.

“The new guys have come in and freshened the group up from a psychological point of view. New players can do that. Not just them themselves, but also to the group. And just new people, new way of talking or training or conducting themselves.

“It can just... the group sort of forms in a different way. It's been great to see. They've all made a positive impact. They're great guys, good characters. The types of personalities we want to bring to this football club. And so far, I'd say that what we've seen from them on and off the pitch has been really, really positive.

“Our team's changed, has evolved. I think we've improved. If you look at the players we