Rangers vs Hearts Predictions

• Rangers have failed to win six of their last eight matches in all competitions
• Hearts have not lost by more than one goal in their last seven games, including a 2-0 win over Celtic
• James Tavernier has scored five goals in his last nine appearances for Rangers

Rangers may encounter problems beating Hearts 

Hearts will present stiff opposition for an out-of-sorts Rangers in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final. The Jambos are in good form and manager Steven Naismith believes they have learned from their 3-1 League Cup semi-final defeat at Hampden to the Gers back in November.

Naismith is a clever tactician and few Hearts fans can have any complaints about their current situation.

Defeat in this game is likely, but they will battle to the end and may even be able to take the contest to extra-time and penalties if Rangers cannot shake off a worrying slump in form.

Cup is not Clement’s prime objective

Phillipe Clement’s side have won only two of their last eight games in all competitions and threw away their initiative in the title race with poor results against Ross County and Dundee. While the loss to the Staggies was astounding, the draw at Dens Park looked rather inevitable

The Light Blues will dominate possession in this clash, just like they did against Dundee, but Hearts have the defensive discipline to sit in and soak it up. They may also cause some problems from set pieces, which may ultimately be their best route to getting a goal.

Backing the Jambos to win with a two-goal headstart seems a wise move given Rangers’ recent struggles and the fact that This match has been Hearts’ sole focus for some time.