Neil Critchley suffers Hearts head scratcher as Elton Kabangu escapes the blame for losing Jack Butland battle

Neil Critchley admits he was left scratching his head after Hearts only managed to score once in their 3-1 defeat to a Jack Butland inspired Rangers.

The Jambos saw their five year winless run against the Light Blues continue, but they seriously threatened to bring that to an end at Tynecastle, with Elton Kabnagu thwarted at least four times by the Gers keeper, who dominated his personal battle with the Belgian striker.

Of their 21 attempts at goal, ten were on target, but only Michael Steinwender's second half header got the better of Butland, while at the other end, Jamie McCart endured a nightmare afternoon, putting into his own net twice. Vaclav Cerny was the man on the spot to re-establish the lead for Philippe Clement's side, with the Belgian seeing a touch of the pressure on lift after last week's Scottish Cup horror show. But opposite number Critchley reckons on another day, his players could have easily piled on the misery.

"I'm scratching my head a little bit," he said. "I don't think 3-1 is a fair reflection of the game at all. It's not often you play Rangers and you have more of the ball, more passes, better chances, clearer chances, more shots. And we've done all of that today, yet we've lost.

"I suppose the story of the game for us is we weren't clinical in our moments and a little bit of misfortune for maybe one or two of the goals as well. And that's what's decided the game. But, yeah, so many positive things. I thought we were very good. I thought we were excellent. Took the game to them, went toe-to-toe with them. I don't think 3-1 is a fair reflection of the game."

Kabangu saw Butland deny him time on again and Critchley admitted the on-loan Union Saint Gilloise hitman cut a frustrated figure as