Hearts v Rangers Prediction: 13/8 Chermiti to break hosts Hearts

It's a massive Monday evening in Edinburgh as Hearts seek to take a giant stride towards landing their first Scottish title in 66 years by defeating Rangers at Tynecastle.

The Jambos are four points clear of the visiting Light Blues in a pulsating three-way title race in the Scottish Premiership, also involving Celtic, who claimed a massive 2-1 win at Hibs on Sunday.

Derek McInnes' side would establish a seven-point gap on Rangers with a win, leaving Danny Rohl's men stranded with only three more games to play.

No side has been crowned Scottish champions outside the Old Firm since Aberdeen in 1985 and all eyes will be on Tynecastle as this fascinating race pens another chapter.

Hearts v Rangers Tips Summary

Best Bet - Over 2.5 goals @ 8/11
Alternative Bet - Youssef Chermiti anytime goalscorer @ 13/8
Bet Builder - Hearts or Draw double chance, Lawrence Shankland anytime scorer, Over 9 corners & Over 4 cards @ 11/2

Hearts v Rangers Prediction

Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals @ 8/11

This is a huge contest for both of these title-chasing clubs and one that should provide lots of goalmouth action.

It finished 4-2 to Gers at Ibrox in the most recent meeting and the visiting side have no choice but to go for victory here, trailing Hearts by four points with just three more games to play.

Rohl suggests Rangers are the "hunters" in this scenario and his side will be deployed as such.

McInnes, meanwhile, insists his Jambos have "always been an underdog with real belief in what we're doing".

Over 2.5 goals has come up trumps in Hearts' last three games and the Gers' last four. Indeed, the Glasgow side have seen 25 goals scored in just four league games lately.

This showdown in the capital may follow a similar pattern with both sides likely to supply goals.

Alternative Bet: Youssef Chermiti anytime goalscorer @ 13/8

Youssef Chermiti joined Rangers for £8m from Everton last summer and the talented Portuguese forward has often split opinion.

He has scored a more-than-respectable 12 goals in 26 Premiership appearances so far - and four of those have come against Hearts.

He also fired a brace in the New Year's derby win at Celtic and has proved himself adept on the big occasion.

Chermiti has three goals and two assists in his last three outings and he can prove a livewire for Rangers once more against Hearts.

 Hearts v Rangers Bet Builder Tip

• Hearts or Draw double chance

• Lawrence Shankland anytime goalscorer

• Over 9 corners

• Over 4 cards
  Pays 11/2

Rangers have left Tynecastle with a victory just once in their last four attempts (D2, L1). Hearts raced into a two-goal lead here in December and held on for the win.

The hosts are grinding out results and Rangers have continued to show a soft centre at some crucial stages so the Premiership leaders can take something from this game.

Lawrence Shankland's return from injury has been timely for Hearts, with successive goals against Livingston and Motherwell before blanking in the Edinburgh derby last Sunday.

The Scotland international can get amongst the goals here.

There were 16 corners when these sides last met here in December and 10 at Ibrox in February. Hearts' home games average 10.06 flag kicks, while Rangers' road matches average 12.19.

They should combine for double figures, with both teams influential from set pieces.

Finally, there were six bookings in the most recent league meeting and with so much on the line and both managers talking of aggression and hunting in the build-up, this could be a fiery affair with plenty of cards dished out.

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Key Match Stats

• Over 2.5 goals has landed in Hearts' last three games and each of Rangers' previous four

• Three or more goals have been scored in three of the last four Scottish Premiership meetings between these teams

• Rangers lost 3-2 to Motherwell last weekend, their first league defeat in 17 games

• Hearts have won four of their six league games against Rangers and Celtic so far this season

• Hearts are seeking a sixth straight home win in the league, their best sequence in 21 years

• Youssef Chermiti has scored four of Rangers' five league goals against Hearts this season

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.