Relentless Rangers' charge towards the title leaves them in the clear

james traynor

11 Mar 1991

THERE are those so disgusted with the standard of Scottish football who would have been happy had the entire country been shrouded with a thick veil of fog on Saturday.

They would have been perfectly willing to pay out money to go to the football in the knowledge that, no matter how hard they peered, the players and what they were up to would have remained invisible.

However, the mist which restricted vision in the north-east to such an extent that Aberdeen's match against Dunfermline had to be postponed was not welcomed like some blessing in disguise.

While the Pittodrie club had to feel their way around, their rivals for the premier-division championship, Rangers, could see clearly.

They could see the league trophy gleaming up ahead on the horizon, and they stretched their legs and moved closer to the light.

Their eight-point lead over Aberdeen had been narrowed to four points, but a competent 2-1 win over Hearts at Ibrox relieved some of the tension which had arrived along with the Dons, who would rather have had two more points in their account than a game in hand.

The haze which prevented them from playing at the weekend has merely shifted pressure away from Ibrox and laid it at Pittodrie's front door.

After Aberdeen had beaten them last week, Rangers' manager, Graeme Souness, said rather ominously that his team now knew what they had to do in the remaining games of the season and, if anyone had been wondering what he meant, it all became clear against Hearts.

Rangers were more positive and alert than they had been in previous matches and, although Hearts had some moments at Ibrox, they were never allowed to hamper seriously the quest to retain the title.

Souness's players didn't look capable of losing the game and, for a spell after they had scored their first goal, it seemed as though Hearts were to be given a sound beating.

Sometimes it is as though the Ibrox side are oblivious to the opposition.

They just keep rolling on in a steady but relentless fashion, always giving the impression they will do whatever is required to overcome.

Against Hearts the ball was moved around with an assurance which must have pleased Souness, who likes a possession game, and even Scott Nisbet, playing beside Richard Gough because it had been decided to give John Brown more time to recover from a niggling injury, was spreading the play with an accurate flourish.

Nisbet even played a part in the first goal.

His pass was met by Hateley just inside Hearts' penalty area after 16 minutes and the tall striker brought Trevor Steven into play.

The midfield player's next couple of movements bore the mark of genius.

He made a splendid goal look remarkably easy.

He took Hateley's knock-down on his chest and, from the edge of the box, volleyed powerfully over Nicky Walker and into the net.

It all looked so simple, but, of course, simplicity is the tool of the gifted.

The fluent beauty of Steven's goal seemed to mesmerise Hearts, who had squandered the first opportunity of the game.

Craig Levein's header after only 30 seconds looped over Rangers' defence and dropped to John Colquhoun, but the winger hit his shot high when it would have been better to have placed the ball low and wide of Chris Woods.

The keeper was able to touch the ball over the top.

However, in 28 minutes Hearts did manage to make a real impression.

Terry Hurlock and Richard Gough both moved to cover an advance by John Robertson and Hurlock knocked the ball free, leaving the Hearts striker running away all on his own down the right.

He squared the ball to Ferguson, whose finish was perfect.

The former Rangers midfield player, as though showing Colquhoun how it ought to be done, knocked the ball towards Woods' bottom right-hand corner -- and that's exactly where it went.

It was a well-taken goal and one which might have had an unsettling effect, but Rangers registered no noticeable reaction and continued to press ahead, with Hateley and then Ally McCoist threatening Walkers' goal.

Eventually, however, he was beaten again -- and again at his right-hand corner.

Mark Walters took possession on the edge of the box and his angled shot streaked low and into the net, making Walker appear cumbersome in his attempt to save.

It was all over then, although Gough and Hateley came close to scoring a third goal, but Rangers will be able to look ahead to Sunday's Tennents Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with some relish.

They will have Brown and Maurice Johnston, who was not risked on Saturday because he has a sore back, in their usual places, and Ian Ferguson, who played for 57 minutes against Hearts, will have benefited from his outing.

Rangers intend preparing as normal this week for the tie at Celtic Park and then spend Saturday night in a hotel.

They will be able to concentrate on the cup content in the knowledge their surge towards the league title has regained its momentum and that the gap between themselves and Aberdeen has widened again.

Souness is also bound to be happier that the supporters took his advice and were more vocal in their backing on saturday.

He had been critical of them, suggesting they were not patient enough and told them not to take anything for granted.

They, like the players, have received the message and only by sticking together will they be able to continue their dominance of the domestic game.

Everyone seems to be on the same wavelength and that should last at least until kick-off on Sunday.

There's no telling what might happen when the emotive forces peculiar to Old Firm games come into play.

Taken from the Herald