Courage and conviction

Hearts 0 Rangers 2 Subs: Adam for Wales 59, Kirk for Simmons 59.

Not used: McKenzie, Boyack, McMullan.

Booked: Simmons 59.

Referee: H Dallas.

Not used: McGregor, Dodds, Ross, Wilson, Lovenkrands.

Attendance: 14,124.

ALEX McLeish was asked on Friday whether he expected the championship race to go down to the wire next season. "It might go down to the wire this season," he fired back. There was more devilment than conviction, but the comment spoke volumes about how McLeish and his players' morale had been transformed by the little matter of putting one over on Celtic.

Last night a Rangers support which had savoured two delicious second half goals from Ronald de Boer and Neil McCann closed their evening chanting that they were "Alex McLeish's blue-and-white- army". It was a heartwarming sign of acceptance for the manager, whose welcome from the fans in December had been conspicuous by its absence.

McLeish was enthusiastic on all issues last night other than Kevin Muscat, about whom he would not comment. Wolves' Australian full- back, a 28-year-old who has a reputation for aggressive play, to say the least, was reported yesterday to have agreed a four-year deal to join as a Bosman signing in the summer.

"When Rangers have something to say we will let you know," said McLeish, which sounded like managerspeak for "yes, we've signed him".

"We had a huge appetite for the game," he said contentedly. "When you see centre forwards chasing back and wingers chasing back you know you're making progress."

Today, McLeish will fly to watch Feyenoord play at Groningen.

Hearts manager Craig Levein's assessment was frank. "I thought we got away with 2-0," he said. "In the second half we were taught a little bit of a lesson on how to pass the ball and keep possession."

Hearts had re-laid the Tyne-castle playing surface but their pitch held up better than their performance. Ricardo Fuller began as if he had sensed a platform to further raise his profile. He threaded a low shot to the near post, and then a vicious angled drive which flew across Stefan Klos's goal. As a provider, he fired over a venomous cross which Bert Konterman did well to intercept.

It was a vigorous opening for Rangers to absorb but, when they found their stride, they began pummeling Hearts. Thomas Flogel, at right-back, endured a particularly mesmerising evening at the feet of McCann.

As Rangers began to flow, Antti Niemi kept his side in the game with three wonderful saves in the space of 180 seconds. An instinctive block prevented de Boer from scoring with a close range header and, moments later, his reactions were equally impressive to deny Shota Arveladze after a powerful volley. As the supporters reacted to that double burst of excitement, Arveladze fired in another shot which Niemi blocked again.

The flurry of attacks underlined Rangers' emergence into the match, and also encouraged it. If de Boer or Arveladze could not score it seemed unlikely that Barry Ferguson would be more successful, but the captain seemed propelled by the praise he had received for his performance against Celtic and was again an industrious influence on the play.

Ferguson tried three quick shots, each more impressive than the one before. The first was straight and weak, the second too firm for Niemi to hold before Tore Andre Flo squirted the rebound into the side net, and the third a curling, right-footed attempt which floated dangerously close but wide.

Ferguson was accompanied in central midfield by Stephen Hughes, whose forceful play belies his fragile appearance.

Hearts have had to endure more than their fair share of beatings from the Old Firm in the last few years but they could never be accused of offering meek opposition on their own turf. Tynecastle can be a tight, suf-focating bearpit but Hughes came through unscathed.

Nevertheless, Rangers, as always here, found themselves embroiled in a bruising, combative match which Hugh Dallas refereed sens-ibly. Several players were spoken to, but, after four red cards when the clubs met here last season, there was no need for more.

Konterman - naturally cheered by the travelling supporters for his Old Firm winner on Tuesday - and Lorenzo Amoruso had had enough of Fuller's early impertinence and kept him out of the game, at least until just before half-time when he collected a Stephen Simmons lay- off and bent a shot wide. It was a rare chance for Hearts, whose wayward passing left them chasing and tired.

Another super Niemi save was required to repel Rangers from a move which began when Amoruso intercepted a Flogel pass to Steven Pressley. The Rangers captain - well, Lorenzo no doubt thinks of himself as such - fed the ball wide for McCann to cross for Arveladze, whose header was blocked.

It seemed improbable that Hearts would be able to resist forever given that Rangers had the ingredients to prise them open: McCann providing the service, and Arveladze, Flo or de Boer in the centre to finish. It turned out to be de Boer. Flogel gave possession away and the ball was fed wide to McCann, whose delivery was accurate again. Flo did a clever step-over, and de Boer killed the ball with his first touch and slipped it firmly into the corner of Niemi's net with his second.

Rangers' superiority was un-threatened thereafter and, though the breathless pace of the game barely eased off, there was a solidity and assurance about them which provided further evidence of the advances being made under McLeish. Ferguson brought another couple of saves out of Niemi, then Arveladze made an opening in the penalty area only to let himself down by smacking his shot wide. Arveladze, along with Ferguson and Konterman provided an outstanding evening's work.

Fittingly, though, it was the game's most exceptional performer who cemented Rangers' victory. A Hearts move broke down with Fuller claiming obstruction, and Rangers swept the ball upfield for McCann to cover 30 yards before burying a shot across Niemi and into the goalkeeper's left-hand corner.

Dick Advocaat's first league game as Rangers' manager was at Tynecastle and he lost it. McLeish - still unbeaten after 14 - can detect progress at every turn.

Copyright 2002
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