Rangers 5-0 Hearts: Jambos can't contain Rangers but European cushion remains intact

A reaction was guaranteed and so it transpired, yet those in maroon perhaps left Glasgow wondering how this match ran away from them so quickly. They weren’t especially outplayed or outfought in the first half and created enough to trouble their hosts. A ruthless second-half Rangers display put clear daylight between the teams.

Alfredo Morelos’ return from international duty was marked with a double, with Scott Arfield plus substitutes Glen Kamara and Fashion Sakala adding extra shine to the final score. Rangers held a one-goal interval deficit and Hearts realistically needed to score next. When Morelos struck again on 64 minutes, there was no way back.

Half-time substitute Ellis Simms showed plenty promise for the visitors at the start of the second period during their best spell. They had been slightly hesitant in final third but their pressing game caused some uncertainty within the home rearguard.

Rangers, however, remained patient knowing a second goal would give them total control. Kamara’s third, Arfield’s fourth and Sakala’s fifth only compounded the misery for travelling fans tucked into the corner of Ibrox.

As Rangers stayed within a point of Premiership leaders Celtic, Hearts’ consolation was that none of their European rivals had gained any ground over the weekend. Defeats for Motherwell and Hibs helped maintain a ten-point cushion for the league’s third-placed side.

John Souttar wasn’t fit for Hearts while Rangers welcomed Morelos back and left high-profile new recruit Aaron Ramsey on the substitutes’ bench. After a midweek trouncing at Celtic Park, the onus was on the home team to earn three points.

Hearts arrived seeking to prove that recent close contests with Celtic and Rangers were no coincidence as