McLeish turns up heat on Hearts

Rangers manager Alex McLeish has urged his players to crank up the heat on Hearts this weekend as the race for second place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League hots up.

Hearts – who are in the runners-up spot – take on Hibernian in the Tennent‘s Scottish Cup on Sunday.

That means no SPL action for the Tynecastle club until next midweek when they take on champions-elect Celtic, who need just one more win to clinch the title.

A win for Rangers against Dundee United would allow them to slash the gap between themselves and Hearts to just three points and pile on the pressure for the remainder of the campaign.

With a Champions League place up for grabs, the stakes are high, and McLeish insists Rangers must make the most of their league business at Tannadice on Sunday.

“It is important we exert some pressure this weekend as Hearts are not involved in SPL action,” he told Rangers News.

“It‘s going to be a tough away game for us but we are more than capable of going there and winning.

“It is a chance for us to cut the gap with Hearts not playing until the following Wednesday and that should motivate the players.

“In the last couple of seasons we have struggled there although it has never been an easy venue.

“However, we have good confidence in the side and we aim to take that forward.”