Hearts 3-3 Rangers: Cantwell's test but Clement concern continues

As the warm-up for next week's Scottish Cup Final continued goals from Ross McCausland, Todd Cantwell and Fabio Silva established a 3-1 lead. Lawrence Shankland had opened the scoring while Dexter Lembikisa added another late on before Kyosuke Tagawa's equaliser. 

Here are the big talking points discussed.

A similar half-time message

In midweek, after Rangers came from two down to defeat Dundee 5-2, Clement issued his most pointed press conference yet. The Belgian manager lamented his team’s work off the ball and suggested the contrast between the first and second half was a perfect example of what must change moving forward, saying: “I cannot make myself angry every half-time or before every game. That’s impossible. It needs to come out of the team”. His utterances in the Tynecastle dressing room would’ve surely been similar, however. Once again it was the small intangibles - such as intensity off the ball - that lacked. As Todd Cantwell and Scott Wright gave the ball up cheaply to allow Hearts a free run behind the defence and Lawrence Shankland, the issue of intensity was so clearly at hand. If that continues next week Rangers' hopes of lifting the Scottish Cup are minor.

McCausland's debut season impresses

It’s easy to forget that McCausland hadn’t made a competitive Rangers start until Steven Davis’ spell as interim boss in October. Indeed, when Giovanni van Bronckhorst took a youthful Rangers side to Gorgie road on the eve of the Europa League Final, with Alex Lowry and Cole McKinnon scoring, McCausland remained on the bench. He didn’t appear a name next in line to reach the first team but when a switch in style opened up an opportunity for the Northern Irishman late last year, McCausland was ready. And he can hold his head high with the contribution offered in a season that’s featured collective ups and downs. It was the 21-year-old’s individual efforts that offered a route back shortly after the game resumed. Bouncing the ball over Cammy Devlin’s head, shifting onto his left foot an finding the far corner from 20 yards. As was the case when he started the comeback at Ibrox in midweek against Dundee. Rangers need speed and quality on the wings, but McCausland has done enough to merit his place in the squad going forward.

READ MORE: Clement needs to fix his Old Firm midfield - here's how

How different will next week's team look?

Clement remained without a host of regulars in his starting 11 for today’s game. Surely Ridvan Yilmaz, Dujon Sterling and perhaps Abdallah Sima will line up at the national stadium for next week’s Old Firm Scottish Cup Final. Leon Balogun and John Souttar were nowhere to be seen although the former was given a shot at making the game suggesting his return is not far away. There is substance to the argument that Clement must try something different against Celtic with Brendan Rodgers’ team holding such a superior record in the fixture since 2021. To do that, on the basis of quality alone, the Belgian needs more quality on the pitch than was available to him today. The Ibrox side were two goals ahead but still let that slip to send Tyencastle into uproar come full-time. It was perhaps another example of where this season has gone wrong.

Will Cantwell make Hampden team?

The 26-year-old creative midfielder has missed out on both of Clement’s recent Old Firm teams in place of Tom Lawrence. In a season disrupted by injury and a change in style, Cantwell hasn’t always hit top form but nobody can question his ability when fully focused as his manager conceded in midweek. For a time against Hearts, it felt as though Rangers were witnessing the level of performance that’s led to perceived mistrust from Clement against Celtic. The second half, much like the whole team, led to an upturn, however. Cantwell grew into the game and sent his team into the lead with a cool left-footed finish that found the same corner McCausland has minutes before. Rangers will need far greater quality in the middle of the pitch to have any hopes of lifting the Scottish Cup next week. It is set up for Cantwell to try and rise to that particular occasion.