Rangers will be in the 2023/24 Scottish Cup Final after overcoming Hearts at Hampden.
The Ibrox side have put an end to a disastrous run of domestic form with the club without a win in three matches heading into this game.
Much has been made about the club’s poor run of one win in five in the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup clash against Hearts offered Rangers a welcome distraction.
Ahead of the game there were some big calls – namely Connor Goldson being dropped for Leon Balogun – with the end result justifying Philippe Clement’s pre-match decision-making.
Cyriel Dessers got both the goals in a match-winning display at Hampden with a Final against Celtic now set for the end of May.
Here are the seven burning questions following Rangers’ victory over Hearts as the Ibrox side get a welcome boost of positivity following a disastrous few weeks.
Has Cyriel Dessers turned a match-winning corner?
Enigmatic Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers showed what he’s capable of with a match-winning contribution against Hearts.
All season long Rangers fans have flip-flopped with the Nigerian international striker who now sits on 19 goals for the campaign.
But the biggest criticism which has been levelled at the £5m ex-Cremonese forward is that he does not score enough in the big games.
Well, this is one major moment in the plus column.
Throw in Real Betis and that tetchy visit to St Mirren earlier in the season and suddenly Cyriel Dessers is digging away at a reputation which has unfortunately preceded him in recent weeks.
With two big, robust finishes in this game, the biggest tests are still to come with Rangers relying on the hitman to produce in the final five Premiership games.
Can Todd Cantwell lead Rangers to 56?
Whilst Cyriel Dessers steals the headlines, the player of the match at Hampden was probably Todd Cantwell.
Another enigmatic presence in the Rangers squad, there’s an argument that the 26-year-old midfielder is technically the most talented player in the league.
Providing both assists for Cyriel Dessers in the match, we saw Todd Cantwell at his creative best at Hampden but the challenge is for the once Bayern Munich-linked midfielder to make the difference consistently.
Todd has bags of talent and character – Rangers need to find a way to harness it.
Is Leon Balogun now first choice over Connor Goldson?
For a while Rangers’ centre-back pairing for the campaign looked to be set on Connor Goldson and John Souttar.
But as the Gers vice-captain has looked increasingly uneasy at the heart of the defence, the calls for Leon Balogun to come into the side have been echoing around Ibrox for a while.
Injury has prevented Philippe Clement from utilising Balogun to his full potential recently but in came the defender for the Scottish Cup semi-final v Hearts.
In an inspired display, the 36-year-old Nigerian international brought a confidence and commitment to the squad which has been sorely missing from Ibrox in recent weeks.
Whilst the team will be managed as per Philippe Clement’s mantra, in our strongest team it’s hard to leave the defender out.
The question then becomes, who drops out? Connor Goldson or John Souttar?
How crucial is Mohamed Diomande to this Rangers team?
It’s no accident that in the two games Rangers dropped points, Mohamed Diomande wasn’t available due to injury.
The Ivorian midfielder is an immensely tidy player on the ball and has an eye for both a forward pass and long-range shot that really shows great potential.
Increasingly, the 23-year-old looks like one of the first names on the teamsheet and Rangers appear to have unearthed a gem in the former FC Nordsjælland midfielder.
Something tells us we’ll see the best of Mohamed Diomande next season but for the time being, he will be crucial in these final six matches.
How big a blow is the potential injury to Abdallah Sima?
Rangers manager Philippe Clement confirmed after the win over Hearts that Rangers are assessing the injury sustained by Abdallah Sima in the game.
In a worrying blow, the Senegalese forward pulled up in the first half in one of those innocuous moments which could go on to be something bigger.
Having just returned from a long-term injury lay-off, any serious issue to Abdallah Sima will represent a monumental blow for a stuttering Rangers frontline.
The pressure is then on someone else to stand up with Rabbi Matondo proving ineffectual from the start v Hearts.
What is going on with Fabio Silva?
The Portuguese striker, 21, is a very perplexing player indeed.
Having joined Wolves for mega money as a teenager, the bluntness Fabio Silva offers in front of goal is genuinely remarkable.
Against Hearts, the striker belly-flopped onto the ball when it looked easier to score and it’s a moment which sums up Fabio Silva’s current status at Rangers.
There’s talent there – we’ve seen glimpses – but for someone with such a big reputation to be so ineffectual in the final third is a big worry.
Silva was Rangers’ marquee January signing and unless he gets his act together, his Rangers career might bow out in disappointment.
Can Rangers defeat Celtic in Scottish Cup Final?
Rangers’ victory over Hearts has teed up a first Scottish Cup Final in 22 years against Old Firm rivals Celtic.
In a tantalising fixture set for the 25th of May, Rangers will fancy their chances against Brendan Rodgers’ team in a neutral venue with a 50/50 split of fans.
That game certainly stands alone and there will be plenty keeping an eye on it as it ticks closer.
But before then there is the small matter of the Scottish Premiership title and Rangers and Celtic will battle it out over five Scottish Premiership post-split matches.
With an Old Firm to come at Celtic Park before the Final, it could decide if both teams are playing for a double or Rangers are hunting a treble.
