The league leaders kept their advantage at the summit by seeing off Rangers as Celtic defeated Aberdeen

16:59, 21 Dec 2025Updated 20:00, 21 Dec 2025

Hearts manager Derek McInnes

Derek McInnes reckons Hearts lived up to his expectations by beating Rangers – but admits his Premiership pacesetters will have to improve if they are to stay clear of the chasing pack.

The jubilant Jambos gaffer could barely contain his delight after seeing the Gorgie men make it home and away wins over both Old Firm sides this season. Their 2-1 victory over Danny Rohl’s side keeps the Tynecastle outfit six points clear of Celtic at the top and on course for a remarkable title triumph.

McInnes, though, isn’t getting carried away and knows his side must strengthen in January. But for now, he believes they are matching his targets for the team – and hit back at suggestions they’re only out in front because of the failings of the Glasgow giants.

The Hearts gaffer said: “Well, I’m pleased that we’ve won the game again today. I’ve got such a strong belief that we have got such a good team here. We’ve got a good thing going. I’m also aware that every game is tough.

“I expected us to win today. I did. I expected us to win today. We’re exactly where we want to be. But I expected it to be tough and it was tough. Rangers have got a lot of talent.

“I keep hearing about how poor other teams are. But our points tally is exactly where it should be for a team who should be top of the league. People seem to think that ‘Oh Hearts are only top of the league because of the failings of others’.

“We’re just concentrating on ourselves. We’ve still got that fight to improve. I genuinely feel we’re going to have to improve if we’re going to make it the season we want it to be.

“But listen, we’re just almost at the halfway stage. I’m really pleased with what the players have given us. I’ve been encouraged from day one, to be honest.

“I actually felt that the balance of the squad, the quality of the squad, the motivation of the squad, the professionalism of the squad has been at such a high level. I’m not surprised about how well we’re doing.”

McInnes is hoping for a couple of late Christmas gifts from Tony Bloom once the January window opens. And he warned his side can’t afford to stand still when it comes to recruiting.

“Yeah, I think we need to get stronger,” declared McInnes, whose side are also now a dozen points clear of Gers. “I think the performances need to improve.

“As the games go on, each game will become, well, hopefully become bigger that the next one. I want us to be relevant. I don’t want us just to see out a season and think of what it could have been.

Hearts players celebrate

“I actually just want us to keep playing important games. And as we go along, I expect others to improve. I think there’s a lot of good teams in the league.

“And there’s probably us and maybe Motherwell who are really probably punching above our weight through the league.

“So we’re really encouraged about where we’ve came from last season to this season. We’ve took huge steps forward.

“And that’s a testament to every day at the club, from the board, the supporters, the players and staff, where everybody’s just working for the same thing.

“But we do need to improve. We need to be smart while we’re working recruitment. We need to come out of January stronger again. But the players and myself, we all need to get better as the season goes along.”

Hearts got lucky when Bojan Miovski’s early opener for the visitors was chalked off by VAR for offside. But they fully deserved the victory, earned thanks to goals from Stuart Findlay and Lawrence Shankland late in the first half.

McInnes said: “I don’t think anybody could deny us a win there. I thought we were strong. I thought we worked hard. The players gave everything as they do.

“The players turned up again. There’s always the first question people would aim at you if you don’t win a game like this. Can you win the big games when it really matters, when the question is asked of you?

“But we’ve dealt with it. People say the bigger the game, the bigger the performance. Once again, we delivered a big performance.”