Rangers snatch late draw as McInnes returns to Hearts

Rangers rescued a 3-3 draw at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football, with a headed equaliser in the 89th minute at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh. The match carried extra weight because Rangers manager Derek McInnes was back at his former ground for the first time since leaving Hearts for Ibrox in June, only weeks after Hearts narrowly missed out on the league title. The result extended Hearts' unbeaten home run in the league to 26 games.

McInnes was loudly booed by the home fans as he came out of the tunnel. Rangers nevertheless took the lead in the 16th minute, when Kevin Kelsy finished after a lapse by Hearts' Laurent Mendy.

Second half

Hearts came out with greater purpose after the interval and levelled three minutes into the second half, when Caludio Braga forced the ball over the line from close range. In the 57th minute they went ahead. Tomas Magnusson took the ball off Kim Minsu and sent Braga down the left; his angled shot deflected off Manny Fernandez to Calvin Miller, who finished low from seven yards.

McInnes brought on Algerian winger Bouanani for Gassama, and his free-kick from the left was headed in by Olwethu Makhanya as stoppage time approached. In the closing seconds Dujon Sterling had a chance to win it for Rangers but chested the ball straight to Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus.

Table and reaction

Rangers stay four points behind Celtic, who drew with Dundee United, and four points ahead of Hearts.

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken said his side lost two points and that the first goal was their own mistake. McInnes said Rangers deserved a point and admitted they looked naive at times. Tension appeared between the two managers at full time over the handshake: Vrancken said it should be genuine and doubted that it was, though the pair spoke afterwards, while McInnes said all was fine.