Rangers sweep aside Hearts to set up Aberdeen final

Scott Wright scored his first goal since a Scottish Cup final strike against Hearts in 2022

Captain James Tavernier scored twice as Rangers eased past Hearts to book a Viaplay Cup final date against Aberdeen on 17 December.

There was a riposte from Hearts in the shape of a Lawrence Shankland penalty - awarded after Stephen Kingsley's sending off was overturned - but it was too little, too late.

Instead, the Ibrox side will return to Hampden aiming to end a 13-year wait to win the Scottish League Cup as both Philippe Clement and Aberdeen's Barry Robson attempt to win their first trophies with their respective clubs.

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Having run Rangers close in last week's last-gasp Scottish Premiership defeat at Ibrox, Hearts knew the potential onslaught they would endure at Hampden and the Glasgow side dominated the first half.

Abdallah Sima and Todd Cantwell got in headers, with Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark saving on both occasions.

Rangers began to take control and Cantwell was denied at Clark's left-hand post with an angled shot, then Danilo headed wide at a corner.

The Ibrox side may have wondered if they would follow Hibernian in having the best of the semi-final but not winning.

But they carved the opening after Danilo chased a loose ball and was fouled by Clark just outside the six-yard box. Tavernier found the net with Clark rooted to the spot.

Almost straight away, Hearts threatened for the first time as Jorge Grant's corner was headed goalward by Frankie Kent, only for Butland to save.

And then came Wright's moment. The winger had replaced Cantwell at the break and took Danilo's pass on the right to finish from a similar position to his cup final goal.

Again Hearts came and Kingsley's curling shot was creeping in until Butland intervened again.

But Tavernier ended the match as a contest with a typically stylish free-kick from the edge of the box.

It was not the last chapter, though. Kingsley went down in the Rangers box following substitute Ben Davies' challenge and appealed for a penalty.

Nick Walsh initially gave the defender a second booking but, on VAR review, the spot-kick was awarded and yellow card rescinded. Shankland denied Butland a clean sheet with a confident kick.

Player of the match - James Tavernier

A dead ball double took the Rangers captain into double figures for the season

Rangers find the Wright stuff again - analysis

Many expected Wright to leave Ibrox this summer and a move to Turkey seemed on the cards. Even when it did not materialise, he was still largely absent from the first team picture under previous boss Michael Beale.

But new manager Clement has re-invigorated the winger and the goal is reward for his recent resurgence and another indicator of the impact the Belgian boss is having.

Hibs had almost exploited weakness in Rangers' defence with long throw-ins in their recent loss at Ibrox.

Hearts went for a similar approach with Alex Cochrane and Kingsley launching the ball in from either side but Rangers' height advantage with Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun told.

At the other end, Hearts needed concentration but they let themselves down by coughing up possession in the sequence that culminated in the penalty.

What's next?

Rangers face Sparta Prague (20:00 GMT) in Thursday's Europa League tie, then visit Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday (12:00). Hearts' next assignment is away to Motherwell in the league on Saturday (15:00).