It's high time Hearts dumped Rangers and here's what Steven Naismith MUST tell them to get it - Ryan Stevenson

There was an old adage among top flight players like myself who never experienced life at the Old Firm: “If you don’t play for Rangers or Celtic the next best thing is to beat them.”

It sure as hell rang true for me. Battering Hibs with Hearts was obviously a thrill as well but in my time in Gorgie we kind of just got used to dumping our poor neighbours. There was no bigger statement than flooring one of the big two. Here’s the galling thing ahead of Tuesday's visit of Rangers though: Daniel Stendel was in charge the last time Hearts pulled off a win over Rangers. That’s 11 games and almost four years without a win in the fixture - see picture above.

Yes the Glasgow duo may have far greater resources but it should never be the case that Hearts go so long without laying a fist on them. It’s not a hole you want to be going down where 11 without a win becomes 15 then becomes 19 as the seasons pass.

We beat both Rangers and Celtic in my second season at Tynecastle. Against Rangers I scored the greatest tap in of my life to sicken Walter Smith’s side and spark an almighty Jambo pub crawl in Edinburgh. Funnily enough Steven Naismith was in the Rangers ranks that afternoon but I bet he doesn’t remember it as clearly as me.

What he will gladly bring to mind though is the memory of being part of that Stendel side that dumped Steven Gerrard’s Gers out the Scottish Cup in February 2020. That’s what I would imagine Naisy will be stressing to his players ahead of kick off tomorrow night. Seize the moment. Go and make memories that will last you a lifetime.

Beating Kilmarnock on Saturday to win four in a row for the first time in five years is great. But if this Hearts team has anything about them they’ll know winning this next one