Derek McInnes clashed with Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken in a fiesty handshake on his return to Tynecastle with Rangers.

McInnes, who led Hearts to within a game of winning their first league title since 66 years last season, received a hostile reception as he returned to his former club for the first time since joining Rangers in the summer.

Rangers salvaged a 2-2 draw thanks to Olwethu Makhanya’s late equaliser, on a night where McInnes, who had expected to be arriving into the eye of the storm at Tynecastle, was jeered and taunted.

And there was a surreal incident as McInnes and Vrancken, his successor at Hearts, shook hands at the end of the game, with the pair exchanging words and continuing the handshake for longer than appeared necessary.

While not as explosive as the famous handshake between Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, the incident was a talking point after the game and McInnes looked to laugh it off.

“I actually don’t know [what happened],” McInnes said. “Just maybe caught up in the heat of the moment. I thought he was going to thank me for how leaving him such a strong squad here.”

Vrancken replied: “I have the biggest respect for him, for what he does at Rangers and what he did here. When you draw, lose or win, I think you have to have a genuine handshake. But we spoke at the end, and it’s all fine.”

The 2-2 draw meant neither Rangers or Hearts were able to capitalise on leaders Celtic dropping points against Dundee United. Celtic remain four points ahead of Rangers, who are in turn four points ahead of third-place Hearts.

McInnes’ team silenced a pumped-up home crowd when Kevin Kelsy scored in the 16th minute but Hearts turned it round with goals from Claudio Braga and Calvin Miller in the first 13 minutes of the second half.

McInnes’ team silenced a pumped-up home crowd when Kevin Kelsy scored in the 16th minute but Hearts turned it round with goals from Claudio Braga and Calvin Miller in the first 13 minutes of the second half.