Malik Tillman scored the only goal of the game to help Rangers produce one of the narrow football results of the midweek action in the Scottish Premiership. After the away loss to St. Johnstone on Sunday, the under-fire Gers manager came under even more fire, with impatient Light Blues supporters calling for better. It was a lackluster, goalless first-half performance that did not improve until the 66th minute, when midfielder Tillman, on loan from Bayern Munich, poked the ball in from 12 yards. The Govan team will play away at St. Mirren the weekend before the World Cup break, keeping them seven points back of Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of the table.
The ball was in possession of the home team after a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of Veterans Day. However, in the fifth minute, Gorgie forward Josh Ginnelly forced Gers goalkeeper Allan McGregor to sprint outside of his penalty area, costing the team a corner that ultimately resulted in nothing after a goalmouth brawl. As the Govan side tried to get past Jambos keeper Craig Gordon, frustration was never far from the surface.
At the start of the second half, Scott Arfield took the place of Sands, and two minutes later, Gordon made a close-range save on Tillman after another unsuccessful corner attempt. Ginnelly fizzed the ball over the six-yard box at the other end, evading Andy Halliday, who was quickly replaced by McKay, another ex-Ranger. However, in the 75th minute, Morelos was set up by Tillman eight yards from goal, but Tillman’s shot was blocked by Gordon before Morelos’ attempt from the edge of the box went wide of the post. Hearts returned with pace, seeking an equalizer, and once more, nerves started to fray, but Rangers managed to hold on for a much-appreciated victory.
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