Rangers earned a hard‑earned point in a 2‑2 draw at Tynecastle on Derek McInnes’ first match back in Edinburgh after leaving Ibrox in June. The hosts, who have remained unbeaten in 26 league games at home, were forced to settle for a draw after a late equaliser from Olwethu Makhanya, even as the visitors were booed by the Tynecastle crowd. The match finished with Rangers four points behind Celtic and four ahead of Hearts in the Scottish Premiership standings.
The game opened with a quick strike from Kevin Kelsy, who capitalised on a lapse by Laurent Mendy to give Rangers a 1‑0 lead in the 16th minute. Hearts responded in the 48th minute when Claudio Braga slipped past the Rangers defence to level the score. A second equaliser came in the 57th minute when Braga’s shot was deflected into the path of Calvin Miller, who finished from seven yards out to put Hearts ahead again. The visitors were rattled after the first half and were unable to find a winner despite several chances, including a superb header from Dujon Sterling in the dying seconds that was cleared by Hearts keeper Beau Reus.
In the final minutes of the game, Bouanani’s free‑kick was headed home by Makhanya, securing the draw for Rangers. The late goal came after Bouanani had been introduced by McInnes in the 70th minute to add more attack. With the result, Rangers remain four points behind the league leaders Celtic, while Hearts stay four points ahead of the club’s rivals. The match also highlighted the tension between the two managers, with McInnes and Hearts coach Wouter Vrancken exchanging heated words at full‑time over the handshake that followed the final whistle.
McInnes praised his side for fighting on despite the hostile environment, saying “we deserve the point” and acknowledging that a win would have been “unjust” given the circumstances. Vrancken, meanwhile, admitted that Hearts “lost two points” and that the team had performed well but fell short of a victory. The draw leaves both clubs with a chance to improve their positions as the league progresses, while Rangers will look to build on the resilience shown in a difficult away fixture.