SlipsTips Tips: Rangers vs Hearts

After churning out winners for us all week, SlipsTips shares two angles of attack ahead of Saturday's Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Heart of Midlothian.

Rangers vs Hearts (Saturday, 15:00)

Rangers must get themselves up off the canvas in short order when they square off with Heart of Midlothian at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday.

The Light Blues suffered Europa League heartbreak to Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek via a penalty shootout but they still have the chance to sign off for the season with some silverware.

As for Hearts, they have enjoyed a seamless transition into life back in the top flight, with Robbie Nielson’s side comfortably cementing their status as the best of rest.

Rangers are worthy favourites here at general 8/15 but I suspect Saturday’s showpiece could be closer than the odds suggest.

Dipping into William Hill‘s Build Your Odds feature, it's the even-money (1/1) about over zero Hearts goals and Hearts with a + 2 start on the handicap that caught my eye.

Whist last season Rangers were known as a defensively astute side, such solidity has disappeared this term, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team leaking at least one goal in 22 of their 38 (54.5%) Scottish Premiership assignments this season, a sample that includes six of their final eight league fixtures of the campaign.

Only Celtic and Rangers have scored more goals in the Scottish Premiership than the Jambos this term, with Robbie Neilson's team notching at least once in 31 of their 38 league outings.

What’s more, Rangers' Europa League exertions could also take their toll in Mount Florida, whilst Hearts have been afforded the luxury of a full week without any competitive action ahead of what promises to be a tasty tussle at the national stadium.

Given that Robbie Nielson has forged a resolute side that are rarely blown away by their opponents, I’ll round off the Bet Builder by backing Hearts with a + 2 start on the handicap.

Overall, the aforementioned combination has clicked in 30 (78.9 %) of 38 of Hearts’ Scottish Premiership matches this season, yet the odds imply a 50% chance of the same bet copping on Saturday.

With all things considered, the 4/5 available with Bet 365 for Hearts to hit three or more corners also looks worthy of some interest.

The capital club were averaging a sizeable 5.71 corners during the regular season so 4+ flag kicks should be within reach when they come up against what could be a battle-weary Teddy Bears team.