In 1973, Wizard sang ‘I wish it could be Christmas every day’, a sentiment shared by all in Gorgie after taking down both halves of the Old Firm over the festive period.
Two goals late in the first half from Stuart Findlay and Lawrence Shankland were enough to seal a 2-1 victory over an insipid Rangers side, despite a late Youssef Chermiti consolation.
Rangers were unbeaten in eight games in the league since Danny Rohl's arrival, but looked second best in every department at Tynecastle as their hosts brimmed with the confidence of a team who felt like they belonged in first place.
Rangers suffer a reality check
It was a game that felt like it had the capability of shaping the narrative of the months ahead. Had Rangers come out unscathed, Rohl’s undefeated record league would’ve remained intact, and a title tilt may have been seriously manifesting in some supporters’ heads. Hearts, meanwhile, knew that a victory would have Tynecastle believing that they could secure their first domestic top-flight championship in over six decades.
Rohl has been the master problem solver at Ibrox this year, and he knows he has to find a way to pick his players up off the canvas after a humbling reality check at the hands of a side that looks to be the genuine article.
As Derek McInnes’ side put more daylight between themselves and the pack, Rangers now have a mammoth clash with Motherwell, the other side of Christmas, a side who sit a point above them in third, albeit having played a game more.
Rangers keep Hearts quiet until they don't
Rohl appeared to opt for functionality in his starting line-up, sacrificing a forward for Mohamed Diomande to add numbers in midfield. In recent weeks, Mikey Moore has come to the fore as a major creative outlet for Rangers and was trusted in a floating number-10 role behind the lone striker Bojan Miovksi.
The visitors thought they had made the best possible start after 12 minutes when the ball hit the back of the net from a corner. Emmanuel Fernandez towered highest to win a header, much like he had done five days previously against Hibs, which was turned in by Miovski. Hearts were handed a reprieve, though by way of VAR, when it was adjudged that the North Macedonian was offside.
Rangers should’ve been in front via the head of Raskin after 20 minutes, but he could only place his free header wide of the mark, after being picked out by a teasing deep cross from James Tavernier. By the break, however, they'd be two goals down.
Rohl rolled the dice at half time, introducing Youssef Chermiti for Diomande and made an unconventional move to put Tavernier into right midfield and Raskin into defence. Despite the move of intent, his side froze in the second half and offered little to trouble the Hearts goal, until Chermiti's late finish.
Hearts' four-minute blitz wins it
Craig Halkett missed out for the hosts with a late injury, and it was felt in the opening exchanges when the side were breached from a corner, only to be let off by VAR.
Alexandros Kyziridis carved out Hearts’ best opportunity after 18 minutes, nipping inside of Nico Raskin from the right-hand side and unleashing a long-range tester, which flew past Jack Butland’s right-hand post.
The Greek winger came close again four minutes later, twisting Jayden Meghoma inside and out before dragging his shot wide of the far post.
It was an edgy affair for most of the opening half, but Hearts broke the deadlock with 37 minutes on the clock. A well-worked corner on the left found Stuart Findlay, who met the ball perfectly to find the top right corner.
Tynecastle was rocking four minutes later when Shankland doubled the Jambos' advantage. Claudio Braga nodded the ball to his captain, who initially looked to have taken the ball too wide, but somehow managed to beat Butland from a tight angle. Having already had a heavy hand in conceding the corner which led to the opener, the visiting stopper didn't cover himself in glory as the ball somehow found its way in between himself and his near post.
The game should've been over as a contest on the hour mark when Braga weaved his way through the Rangers defence, before he squared the ball to Shankland, who somehow managed to miss the target.
A game of set-pieces
Set-pieces have been the in-vogue talking point across the football landscape this year, and that has been no different in Scotland.
Coming into the afternoon, these were amongst the most efficient sides from set-piece situations. While Hearts (9), were slightly ahead of Rangers (7) on set-piece goals scored, it was evident the importance that both placed on them as an attacking outlet.
Scott Fry arrived at Ibrox to much acclaim, given his record in the lower leagues in England, and his bespoke routines have garnered success for a side low on creativity from open play. Rangers were unfortunate not to take the lead in the first half from a corner after that VAR check and throughout the afternoon, it looked like their most likely avenue to success.
While McInnes’ set-piece coach Ross Grant is somewhat more understated in his touchline presence than his opposition number Fry, his value was certainly felt for the home side’s opener. A simple one-two from a short corner made the angle for Kyrizidis to swing in a majestic cross, where Findlay appeared to have the freedom of the city to pick his spot beyond Butland.
Hearts are Christmas number one
McInnes has been keen to stress over the course of this campaign that he would only start looking at the table when his side had faced everyone home and away. Now the men in maroon have taken maximum points across four meetings with Rangers and Celtic in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
If there was any lingering doubt, they are the real deal and have passed every big test set for them and appear to be growing in confidence with every passing victory. ‘We shall not be moved’ rang out after each Hearts goal and on current evidence, it seems more a statement of fact, than an optimistic chant. For Rangers, this season of mediocracy limps on.
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