Rangers thrash 10-man Hearts to go top

Ruthless Rangers moved top of the Scottish Premiership after an impressive thrashing of 10-man Hearts.

That allowed Rangers to coast to a victory, crowned by substitute Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent – his first goal since March – in the closing stages.

Rangers go a point clear of Celtic, who face Motherwell later on Saturday.

Hearts remain third, now six points behind Rangers, after their 100% league record at Tynecastle this season was demolished.

Robbie Neilson backed up his bold pledge to take the game to Rangers by starting on-loan Wigan Stephen Humphry to bolster an attack-minded line-up.

But Hearts – despite a lively start – couldn’t live with Rangers’ speed and incision at the other end. Within 40 minutes the Ibrox side were two goals and a man up and Neilson’s game-plan was out the window.

Any hopes of a comeback were effectively ended by Devlin’s senseless dismissal, rushing in to plant his studs on Matondo’s ankle as the Rangers winger shielded by the ball from Alex Cochrane on the touchline. Devlin prides himself on combative play, but it was sheer stupidity.

Colak, again preferred to Morelos, continues to justify his status as Rangers’ first-choice striker. The Croat had just four touches in Hearts’ box and two shots. Both ended in the back of the net as he clinically took his tally to 11 goals in 14 games.

Colak barley had to jump to meet Kent’s excellent Ryan Kent’s whipped cross and divert a header in off the post for the early breakthrough.

Scott Arfield missed a glaring chance, guiding wide from 10 yards, but the second goal wasn’t long in coming. John Lundstram’s raking pass found Matondo, who darted in from the right touchline and threaded a pass for Colak to beat Craig Gordon from a tight angle.

Hearts were spared further first-half punishment when Arfield had a goal ruled out for a dubious foul by Matondo on Gordon.

The dismissal made it a damage limitation exercise for Hearts. Both sides, perhaps with an eye on looming European action this week, made a double change at the break. Hearts fans will hope the withdrawal of Barrie McKay and Stephen Kingsley was nothing more than precautionary.

While Rangers’ intensity noticeably dropped, they had plenty of chances to add to their lead, and Gordon was finally beaten a third time when James Tavernier teed up Morelos to blast home.

And Kent rounded off an emphatic Rangers performance with the pick of the goals, curling into the bottom corner.

More to follow.