Match report as Hearts defender Craig Halkett scores 90th-minute equaliser to share spoils at Ibrox; Rangers remain top of Scottish Premiership, one point ahead of Hearts
Saturday 16 October 2021 21:00, UK
Hearts defender Craig Halkett scored a last-minute equaliser against Rangers to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on Saturday.
Steven Gerrard's side were in complete control for the majority of the game and former Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram finally broke the deadlock just before half-time with a delightful effort from range.
Rangers proceeded to fire 27 shots at Craig Gordon's goal, with Alfredo Morelos culpable of spurning three good opportunities.
The Gers paid the price for failing to make their dominance count in the dying seconds, when centre-back Halkett rose highest from a corner to nod the ball into an empty net.
Lundstram's wonderful first-half strike from 30 yards had given the home side a deserved interval lead but they could not add to it as the game went on.
And after Jambos boss Robbie Neilson was sent off by referee Don Robertson with three minutes remaining, a mistake by Gers keeper Allan McGregor from a corner allowed Halkett to nod in at the back post to keep the visitors unbeaten in the league and still a point behind the champions.
Hearts had come to attack but in front of around 1,000 away fans, Rangers threatened with pace and creativity.
Former Celtic keeper and current Scotland number one Craig Gordon saved drives by attackers Scott Wright and Ianis Hagi inside the first six minutes, before Gers striker Alfredo Morelos screwed a shot wide of the far post.
The Light Blues kept probing and following a Borna Barisic corner in the 28th minute, Gordon made a brilliant double save from Leon Balogun, first from the header and then a close-range shot, before Hearts cleared their lines.
The visitors seemed to have stemmed the tide but when Hagi's cross from the right into the box was repelled out to Lundstram, the former Sheffield United player teed up his shot and sent the ball speeding past Gordon.
Rangers were less fluid after the break in the 66th minute only a brilliant block by Stephen Kingsley stopped Morelos's goal-bound shot. Then Hearts began to threaten.
McGregor made a great save from Liam Boyce as the offside flag went up, but then the Gers keeper stopped a shot from former Rangers attacker Barrie McKay after he had outstripped the Light Blues defence. Another save from Cameron Devlin's long-range shot had the Gers nerves jangling.
Back came Rangers and Gordon knocked a shot from substitute Kemar Roofe, on for Hagi, on to the post and the danger was cleared.
In an increasingly tense finish, Morelos missed an open goal after being set up by Roofe.
Neilson picked up a yellow card after a melee on the touchline which also saw Kingsley and Gers substitute Juninho Bacuna cautioned, then a second yellow for seeming to keep chirping on at referee Robertson.
But there was even more drama to follow in the last minute of normal time when McGregor flapped at a corner from substitute Gary Mackay-Steven and the unmarked Halkett headed in at the back post to send the travelling fans wild with delight.
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson: "I didn't see the goal but I just heard the silence which was nice, so I was delighted. I was in the tunnel area, at the back, you are not allowed down.
"I am disappointed that I got a second yellow. I am more disappointed at the fourth official because the boy (Bacuna) has grabbed Stephen Kingsley by the throat right in front of him. That is a red card.
"So I complained about that and complained again and got a second one. But when you come to these places and you are not going to get the decisions. For me that was a stone-waller but you have to accept it sometimes.
"I thought it was a really good game, we came here and went toe-to-toe with the champions, we created chances, they created chances and I was delighted with the players, they showed brilliant character."
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard: "That first-half performance will take us to where we want to get to but the second half, I don't think we came out with the same intent, urgency. I thought we got a little bit soft as the game went on.
"The game is about both boxes, you have got to take your chances. At 1-0 we had four or five really top chances to go and kill that game.
"We haven't, so we have almost stitched 'Greegsy' up because the headlines will be Allan McGregor should have dealt with the cross.
"But I think we stitched him up today because we should have scored the second, the third and fourth goal to kill that game before that moment comes."
Rangers host Brondby next Thursday in the Europa League before travelling to St. Mirren three days later.
Hearts face Dundee on home soil next weekend before visiting St Johnstone for a midweek clash.
