The Edinburgh festival has recently kicked off, but for two specific fanbases, the hottest ticket in town was clear. As a new Scottish Premiership season began, Hearts and Rangers delighted the supporters who gathered in numbers at Tynecastle, providing a captivating reminder that goalless draws can indeed be riveting.
With a fast-paced tempo enriched by a refreshing and often clever directness, this match served as a solid advertisement for elite football in Scotland.
“It’s the right result,” stated Rangers manager Philippe Clement. “It’s a fair point. Naturally, I always want more; I wanted to win. We were close, but we could have also lost. There are many individual aspects we can improve upon … but this is just the beginning of our journey.”
Viewers familiar with Scottish football were taken aback when Jack Butland was omitted from England’s Euro 2024 squad, a sentiment the Rangers goalkeeper promptly echoed.
In expertly deflecting James Penrice’s dangerous early shot around the post, he underscored that Clement was likely not being insincere when he noted that, despite bringing in nine new players during a challenging summer at Ibrox, his squad was “probably not better” than last year.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica’s Gerald Taylor began his loan spell at Hearts from Deportivo Saprissa, showcasing his attacking prowess while limiting Óscar Cortés’s chances. Rangers spent a significant portion of the first half under pressure, and it was no surprise that their revival in the second half correlated with the fatigue of their key summer signing.
As Butland made several solid saves against the highly influential forward Lawrence Shankland, and Yan Dhanda’s shot struck the crossbar, it became increasingly difficult to envision Rangers surpassing Celtic to improve on last season’s second-place finish.
While Hearts finished third last season, their goalkeeper, Zander Clark, notably denied Connor Barron, indicating they could pose a serious challenge to Celtic, ensuring they wouldn’t be the only team giving Clement sleepless nights.
Lawrence Shankland reacts after a missed opportunity for Hearts. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters
If the Belgian is left hoping that Rodgers departs Rangers’ Old Firm rivals for the vacant England role, or if Eddie Howe is tempted to accept Gareth Southgate’s previous position at Newcastle, at least he has Cyriel Dessers leading his attacking front.
The second half barely started when an exuberant Clement prepared to celebrate. Following a well-placed corner from James Tavernier, Dessers hit both the post and crossbar with a ferociously swerving header that had Clark beaten.
after newsletter promotion
Despite a noticeable improvement with significantly greater midfield control from the visitors and Clark once again making spectacular saves to tip Tom Lawrence’s half-volley over the bar, Rangers – particularly the soon-to-be-substituted Ben Davies – continued to struggle against Kenneth Vargas’s swift attacks, feeling fortunate that Shankland’s low shot narrowly missed Butland.
“There were several missed opportunities,” remarked Hearts manager Steven Naismith. “But there is plenty to appreciate.”
Clement faces the dilemma that Rangers fans will view this as two points lost, and if Celtic manages to secure a win against Kilmarnock on Sunday, a team temporarily playing home matches at Hampden Park due to ongoing improvements at Ibrox will find themselves in a challenging position.
On a brighter note, the absence of a winning goal ensures that lasting memories will center on the standing ovation Hearts supporters gave to Taylor as the rapidly tiring full-back was substituted in the 85th minute.
August in Edinburgh is renowned for showcasing new talent, yet early signs suggest that few, if any, will overshadow the Costa Rican’s debut performance at Tynecastle.
