Youssef Chermiti hat-trick powers Rangers to victory over leaders Hearts

This proved the game of Scotland’s top-flight season. The seriousness given to it by Rangers, plus their scale of full-time celebration, said much about the progress of their opposition. Hearts’ lead at the summit has been cut to two after the Edinburgh side lost out by two goals. As the scoreline suggests, this was pulsating stuff.

Youssef Chermiti was once ridiculed in these parts. His £8m arrival for Everton was used as a stick with which to beat Kevin Thelwell, the now departed sporting director. Chermiti’s hat-trick against Hearts, added to a recent double at Celtic Park, means he at least has a useful knack of standing up on the big occasion. Rangers’ next task is simple; to build on recent progress and overhaul Hearts.

Derek McInnes and his Hearts team will be sore about this outcome. They twice took the lead in the first half, only to produce defensive error to offer Rangers hope. The hosts were the better side after the interval, with Hearts failing to create adequate and meaningful opportunity.

Hearts’ lead at the top the Scottish Premiership is down to two points after defeat against their closest chasers, Rangers. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

There was the whiff of farce attached to the Hearts opener. Emmanuel Fernandez tried to find Nicolas Raskin, with the Rangers midfielder facing in the opposite direction. Marc Leonard stole possession for Hearts, played a one-two with Cláudio Braga and slammed beyond Jack Butland. Rangers soon hit back. Mikey Moore’s shot rebounded from the Hearts crossbar, with Michael Steinwender’s panic ensuring the Austrian sliced the ball into his own net.

Steinwender was to atone for his generosity with a fine cross for Braga, who beat John Souttar to head home Hearts’ second. Rangers were level by half-time after Craig Halkett’s block of Chermiti’s shot only allowed the striker to hammer a rebound in at the near post of Alexander Schwolow.

Chermiti’s free header at the near post, Andreas Skov Olsen the creator, edged Rangers in front. Hearts huffed and puffed in reply. Chermiti’s final act may well be one in respect of this title race; Rangers counterattacked through Djeidi Gassama before the Portuguese finished. Ibrox roared, as never before this season.