Rangers vs. Hearts Predictions: Gers to soften the heartbreak with Scottish Cup win

Rangers will be attempting to recover from Europa League devastation on Saturday, taking on Hearts in a Scottish League Cup final, and now their sole chance of silverware this season. We've asked our man Adam Roberts to preview this one and give us his best bets.

This a huge occasion for both sides for different reasons. Neither side has won the Scottish Cup since 2011/12, with Rangers going back as far as 2008/09 for the last time they got their hands on this famous trophy. 

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst will have a tough task on his hands, picking up his troops after their heart breaking penalty loss in the Europa League final. It's now essential however, to register some silverware this season after being pipped to the title by bitter rivals Celtic earlier this month. He may well be without left-back Borna Barisic who came off in extra time against Frankfurt and is a doubt to play here. Otherwise, he should have no new injury issues and should have Kemar Roofe available for selection after he came on late in Sevilla. 

Robbie Neilson has done a tremendous job in his second spell at Hearts, first winning the Scottish Championship, before establishing them in the Premiership with a brilliant 3rd placed finish this campaign. If he could now win their first major honours for 10 years, Neilson would be elevated to legendary status in one half of Edinburgh. Neilson is sweating on the fitness of star striker Liam Boyce after he picked up a groin injury last weekend. 

My first pick is for Rangers to win in 90 minutes and both teams to score. Rangers come into this in great domestic form, unbeaten in six and beat their opponents 3-1 last time out. Hearts meanwhile,  have lost their last three games straight. 

Both clubs rank in the top half of the Scottish Premiership for BTTS and although Rangers are on a great domestic unbeaten run, they are conceding goals - they've failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last eight matches in the league - including last week against Hearts. Hearts have had BTTS land in six of their last seven games. 

The two picks combined pay 12/5 at SBK. 

My second selection is for Rangers striker Fashion Sakala to have 2+ shots on target and Hearts front man Ellis Simms to have 1+ shot on target.

Sakala will likely start here, as Kemar Roofe isn't fully fit to play 90 minutes and will be saved. The 25-year-old Zambian has nine goals from 30 appearances (13 starts) this year. However in his last six games, he leads the club for shots (16) and shots on target (6) and has cleared this line twice in his last three starts. 

Simms should replace injured Liam Boyce to lead the line for the Jam Tarts. He has five goals from 11 starts this season and is 2nd for the club in shots on target. He has cleared this line on nine occasions this season.