'Naw, you kidding': Derek McInnes is back at Tynecastle after Rangers tried to floor Hearts

Hearts’ 3-0 win over Falkirk took them to the brink of the Scottish Premiership title and the then Jam Tarts manager took the acclaim of his adoring public on a balmy early summer’s evening. Many believed he would be back inside the grand old stadium a few days later to parade the league trophy.

A defeat by Celtic on May 16, the final day of the season, shattered such a dream. Hearts returned to the sanctuary of their Gorgie home in the hours after that harrowing afternoon in Glasgow, with emotions running high. It was the beginning of a manic four weeks. Little did we know that McInnes’ next appearance in Gorgie would be as Rangers manager.

A month later, on June 17, McInnes was officially appointed by Ibrox chairman Andrew Cavenagh after days of negotiations in the US. The departure of Danny Rohl to RB Salzburg during the World Cup created a vacancy at Ibrox and this time around, all the pieces of the jigsaw fitted for McInnes. He joined his Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland in Govan, who had made the switch a fortnight earlier. Gut punch after gut punch for an already floored Hearts - or so it seemed.

While the implementation of Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics played a major part in Hearts’ rapid emergence as title contenders, it was the procurement of McInnes from Kilmarnock in 2025 that made such a vital impact. The experienced manager knows the Scottish game inside out and was able to stitch together inherited, underperforming players with new recruits. McInnes was just what Hearts needed. He came so close to pulling off a miracle.

It is why Rangers went for McInnes again, nine years on from failing to convince him when at Aberdeen. Not only was he the outstanding domestic candidate, it was also seen as a hammer blow for a team that defeated them three times last season and demoted the Ibrox side to third place.

Rangers made it a hat-trick when luring Cammy Devlin, a stand-out in Hearts’ midfield, on a free transfer. A big dollop of salt into the searing wounds.

Rangers revived after tough start

After a sticky start to life under McInnes, Rangers are thriving. An embarrassing European exit to Jablonec has been followed up by eight wins and a draw, two Old Firm victories, a Premier Sports Cup semi-final and an improved mood around Ibrox. They are four points behind Premiership leaders Celtic and look a more structured, cohesive unit than under Rohl. Goals are starting to flow. Rangers are becoming a proposition for opponents once again. Fans are believing once more.

But if McInnes’ exit was also designed to ravage Hearts, it has not had the desired impact. The Jam Tarts are third in the league, four points behind Rangers, and remain in Europe via the Conference League. New head coach Wouter Vrancken arrived with a bold new philosophy, with Hearts playing aggressive, attacking, high-tempo football. They have taken some shellings - 7-1 by Celtic, 6-1 by Benfica - but have also won at Easter Road against Hibs and, like Rangers, are in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.

One of the gripes - if you can have gripes during the mother of all seasons - was that McInnes’ team was a hard watch at times. That always felt a tad unfair but certain Hearts fans wanted their team to be more cavalier. Hearts certainly play with more abandon, often leaving their defence exposed. But fans are enjoying Vrancken-ball. Watching the Gorgie Boys is guaranteed entertainment right now.

The departures of McInnes, Shankland and Devlin - three of the main actors in last season’s blockbuster - allowed Hearts to shed their skin, to go again with little baggage. Out of the trio, perhaps Shankland’s absence is felt the most. Young James Wilson has netted five goals as the No 9 but Hearts still leave chances on the table.

Injured pair Shankland and Devlin won’t be on the pitch at Tynecastle on Wednesday night, when Rangers rock up under the tutelage of McInnes. It should take a little of the venom out of a passionate home crowd. While they adored the three while they were in maroon, McInnes will undoubtedly get a stinging reception. “Have I been back? Naw, you kidding?” McInnes said on Tuesday when asked if he’s been to Tynecastle since the summer. He is now the enemy - and his departure has not made his former club fall apart like some had predicted.

Rangers’ excellent form will get a stern examination from a Hearts side that has not lost at Tynecastle over 90 minutes in any competition since May 2025, when Dundee ended Neil Critchley’s reign with a 1-0 win. McInnes’ only moment of disappointment in Gorgie came in a Scottish Cup tie against Falkirk when the Bairns prevailed on penalties. Rangers will need to do something Celtic, Benfica, Sturm Graz and Rapid Vienna have failed to do in more than a year if they are to leave the capital with the full loot.

Rangers should take confidence from winning at Celtic Park last month. Is Tynecastle a tougher proposition? Perhaps so given Hearts’ impervious nature at home. Rangers’ title hopes ended upon their last visit to the venue when losing 2-1. From that team, captain James Tavernier, Jack Butland, Nasser Djiga, Mikey Moore, Mohamed Diomande, Andreas Skov Olsen and Youssef Chermiti won’t be there. This feels like a new Rangers.

A proper football match awaits us, under the lights at an iconic venue. Rangers can answer questions on their mentality - the mentality of potential champions - if they can do what their predecessors failed to do and storm Tynecastle. But Hearts can reinforce the notion that they remain a force to be reckoned with and that life after McInnes remains rosy.