Hearts chase history as Rangers reach critical point

Hearts chase history as Rangers reach critical pointImage source, SNSImage caption, Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland has scored three goals in two wins over Rangers this seasonByTom EnglishBBC Scotland's chief sports writerPublished1 minute agoAway back in the mists of time - August, actually - in their third game of a tumultuous league season, Hearts came from 3-0 down at home to Motherwell to rescue a point, Harry Milne scoring once and Claudio Braga, soon to be the darling of Tynecastle, coming off the bench to score twice.It was the first time they'd pulled off such an act of escapology in the league since 1969. At the time, nobody could have known the significance of it, beyond it being an admirable point for Derek McInnes' team.In reality, it was just the start of club and league milestones sent tumbling. Hearts have been top of the league since the first week of October, a piece of front-running not seen by a non-Old Firm club since Alex Ferguson was in his pomp at Aberdeen.As October made way for November and November moved into December, Hearts endured. Outside of Celtic and Rangers, they are the only team to be top of the league at Christmas since 1993 and it was the first time since 1994-95 that they'd beaten the Old Firm twice in one season. They won four straight games against Celtic and Rangers for the first time since 1959-60.Everybody was waiting for the bubble to burst, but it hasn't. Injuries to key players have been overcome and Hearts remain top, the gap narrowing but never eliminated.They are unbeaten in their Tynecastle fortress - played 17, won 13, drawn four, 10 clean sheets, 32 goals scored and only 10 conceded. If they avoid defeat against Rangers on Monday and against Falkirk on 13 May then they'll have completed an unbeaten home league season for the first time in 40 years.Rangers accept derby tickets but 'disappointed' by SPFL stancePublished1 day agoRangers ready for must-win Hearts game - RohlPu...