Rangers 4-2 Hearts: Youssef Chermiti hat-trick closes gap to league leaders

Youssef Chermiti hit a hat-trick as Rangers moved to within two points of Hearts at the top of the table with a 4-2 win over the league leaders at Ibrox in a blockbuster Sunday in the Scottish Premiership title race.

After Celtic scored a 97th-minute winner in a thriller against Kilmarnock earlier in the day, both sets of players knew the importance of three points in Glasgow's south side and traded blows early on as a Michael Steinwender own goal cancelled out Marc Leonard's opener.

Ibrox was stunned into silence again on the half-hour mark when Claudio Braga produced a magnificent header to fire Hearts in front for a second time before Youssef Chermiti dragged the hosts level again.

And the Portuguese striker took centre stage in the second half, with his header putting Rangers in front for the first time before completing his hat-trick in the closing stages.

How Youssef Chermiti fired Rangers to victory at Ibrox…

Rangers enjoyed more of the ball early on backed by a noisy home support but neither team was able to find any real rhythm in the opening stages, with Hearts forced into an early change after Oisin McEntee landed awkwardly on his shoulder, being replaced by Steinwender.

That subdued start didn't last for long, however, when a mix up between Emmanuel Fernandez and Nico Raskin gifted the ball to Leonard, who combined well with Braga before getting the ball back from the Portuguese and firing an unstoppable effort past Jack Butland into the top corner.

Just minutes later it was all square, however, with substitute Steinwender involved almost immediately. Tuur Rommens stood a cross up to the back post but Chermiti was denied by Alexander Schwolow in the Hearts goal, who was also equal to Mikey Moore's follow-up, only for the substitute to lash the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.

Rangers looked to build on their equaliser, quickly putting Hearts under sustained pressure but they couldn't force Schwolow into action before the league leaders went back in front on the half-hour mark.

Ageu got into good space in the box but was closed down by Tochi Chukwuani, only for Steinwender to follow up with a perfect cross to find Braga whose powerful header under pressure from John Souttar found the bottom corner.

Chermiti then dragged an effort wide from the edge of the box but he wasn't to be denied much longer. Andreas Skov Olsen and Ryan Naderi combined well before the latter slid a pass through to his strike partner who got the break of the ball off the sliding Craig Halkett before slamming his finish into the net.

Alexandros Kyziridis tested Butland shortly before half-time but there were to be no more goals in what had been a pulsating opening 45 minutes in Govan. The second half didn't start with the same intensity with both sides having penalty appeals waved away before Chermiti took centre stage.

The 21-year-old has left some Rangers supporters frustrated in spells this season but is potentially developing a knack for scoring big goals in big games and he was on hand to give Rangers the lead for the first time here shortly before the hour mark.

Andreas Skov Olsen delivered an inviting ball into the six-yard box with the Portuguese striker powering past the Hearts defence to head the ball into the net.

Rangers' energy levels seemed to drop as the half wore on but Hearts struggled to carve out clear chances. Oliver Antman went close to finishing the game off for Rangers before Djeidi Gassama set off on a lung-busting run, eventually feeding Chermiti who finished below Schwolow to send Danny Rohl galloping down the touchline in celebration.

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