DANIEL STENDEL has urged his Hearts players to take the belief from their Scottish Cup win over Rangers into the Premiership relegation battle.

Olly Bozanic netted the only goal of a controversial yet captivating quarter-final clash as the Jambos clinched a return to Hampden by seeing off Steven Gerrard’s side.

Hearts are two points adrift of Hamilton at the foot of the Premiership and head to Easter Road for a huge derby clash with Hibernian on Tuesday night.

This was the third time that Hearts have earned a result against Rangers this term and Stendel – who guided his side to victory here in January – knows they must now kick-on in the final weeks of the campaign.

He said: “I hoped it after the last game as well. I said to the players we had to work harder and think more of the club than themselves. it's important that we play for a great club and we need to stay in the league.

“It's not easy but that was good work today and hopefully on Tuesday we can do it again.

“No-one expected a season like this but this is our reality. I hope we understand it and the biggest thing we can do is do it together. This was a good example today - the clean sheet was good but it wasn't only the goalie and the back four who earned it, it was the team, and that gives me hope that we can win this competition.

“We understand we can do it, but only together. That was a good example of what we can achieve as a team. It was not only the goalie or the goal scorer.

“We deserved it today. The clean sheet was good, that was pleasing.

“But it gives me hope we can win the biggest competition of the season.”