Hearts 2 Rangers 1

Hearts were at their Sunday best to give Dick Advocaat the worst possible start in his bid to regain Rangers' grip on the Scottish title.

A repeat scoreline of the Scottish Cup final victory in May was inspired by Stephane Adam and Jim Hamilton putting the Tynecastle side two goals ahead within the opening 20 minutes.

Both strikes must be classed as avoidable, prompted by individual errors, but Rangers responded well initially with a debut goal for Rod Wallace after 28 minutes.

Thereafter, though, it was the settled team that looked happier than the rebuilt side with this fixture perhaps a game too soon for several of new Ibrox manager Advocaat's expensive summer recruits.

The tempo never ebbed but as this first Sky live match of what is being heralded as a new era gathered pace it lost direction and the quality faded.

Yet Hearts had done their damage and, while they were made to defend in numbers in the closing stages, collected a deserved three points to remind the Old Firm of the capital's resurgence.

With Celtic's resounding 5-0 home win over Dunfermline, their two closest rivals for last season's title were both determined to stay with that early pace - and only Hearts have.

But it might be remembered that Wim Jansen's first league game in charge of Celtic also ended in a 2-1 Edinburgh defeat - to Hibernian - and he went on to win the championship.

Without the suspended Lorenzo Amoruso and Gordan Petric, manager Advocaat opted for Craig Moore ahead of Tony Vidmar and drafted Arthur Numan into a more central role.

Neither Andrei Kanchelskis nor Gabriel Amato were deemed fit enough to start and were both on the bench, with Ian Ferguson drafted into midfield alongside Rino Gattuso.

Hearts were without new recruits Rob McKinnon and Steven Pressley which gave their team a familiar look, even to the point of Gary Locke returning to the fold.

The skipper missed the Scottish Cup success against Rangers at Parkhead last May because of a knee problem but has now fully recovered.

After a cautious opening, Hearts were gifted their sixth-minute lead courtesy of an error by Numan, who stumbled in his own penalty area.

Hamilton started the move for Hearts, finding Neil McCann whose cross from the left should have been blocked by the Dutchman but instead found its way to Adam, who netted from close range.

Rangers were clearly shaken and could have gone two behind after 12 minutes when Adam moved behind the Rangers backline and moved clear at goal.

But this time the Frenchman's finishing was less clinical, over-running the ball to Antti Niemi and then, in his bid to retrieve possession, was booked for a foul on the keeper.

Rangers' misery and their deficit was doubled after 20 minutes and again it was partly of their own making, Jonas Thern caught in possession by Adam.

The ball fell kindly for Hamilton, who still had much to do, but he did it well by drilling a low shot beyond the reach of a now despairing Niemi.

A minute later the Finn saved his side, first from Hamilton again after a Thomas Flogel pass and then he was alert to stop Adam's follow-up finding the net.

Wallace then marked his debut in timely manner, seizing on Giovanni Van Bronckhorst's mishit shot to fire the ball first time low past Gilles Rousset to halve Hearts' advantage.

After 36 minutes McCann might have shown more composure when released by Adam but his first touch was too heavy, allowing Niemi to gather bravely.

Kanchelskis was introduced for Thern at the break and Amato for Van Bronckhorst 20 minutes later, but Rangers were still unable to impose themselves on the game.

Wallace had a chance for his and Rangers' second goal after 53 minutes but blazed over the crossbar when in time and space on the edge of the area.

Advocaat's emotions were now running high and he was warned by referee Hugh Dallas for a verbal outburst seemingly aimed at Steve Fulton.

Opportunities were being spurned at both ends as first McCann was too elaborate when closing in on goal for Hearts and then Durie spun and hit a powerful strike just wide of the mark.

After 69 minutes Thomas Flogel's soaring header could have clinched it for Hearts as he met another precise McCann cross, but the effort was the wrong side of the post.

Wallace was proving productive and with 11 minutes remaining forced Rousset into a telling save as Hearts began to panic at the back.

A fierce Albertz drive was beaten away by Rousset after 84 minutes and Numan was unable to convert the rebound - and with that went Rangers' hopes.

At least for now.

Teams

Hearts: Rousset, Naysmith, Weir, Salvatori, Ritchie, McCann, Fulton, Adam (Murray 86), Hamilton, Locke, Flogel.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Quitongo, Holmes, Milne.

Booked: Adam, Fulton.

Goals: Adam 6, Hamilton 20.

Rangers: Niemi, Porrini, Numan, Van Bronckhorst (Amato 65), Durie, Albertz, Thern (Kanchelskis 46), Ferguson, Wallace, Gattuso, Moore.

Subs Not Used: Vidmar, Nicholson, Brown.

Booked: Durie, Moore, Ferguson.

Goals: Wallace 28.

Att: 15,982

Ref: H Dallas (Motherwell).


Taken from sportinglife.com