Hearts 0 Rangers 1

By Jon West, PA Sport

Nine-man Rangers clung on for victory in a spectacle to rival last week's Old Firm derby in incident if not goals.

Jorg Albertz's 12th-minute penalty settled matters but not until both Claudio Reyna and Arthur Numan had been ordered off for the visitors.

Incredibly, it was Rangers who had the best of the second-half chances but overall they had goalkeeper Stefan Klos to thank for some breathtaking stops, including an amazing block with his legs at the death to deny Andy Kirk.

The German had been going the other way to the striker's header and it was only fitting that he received all the plaudits from his team-mates on thewhistle.

All this overshadowed the fact that this was Craig Levein's first match as Hearts chief coach. He will know his side are triers if nothing else.

It took Rangers 12 minutes to take the lead at a stage when the pattern of the game had not yet been established.

Lorenzo Amoruso was the supplier with a long ball over Steven Pressley's head for Barry Ferguson to run on to.

Gordan Petric, one of four ex-Rangers in the home side, came across to cover and committed himself to the tackle.

His snap decision meant there was no room for error and within seconds Ferguson had gone to ground and referee Stuart Dougal was pointing to thespot.

It looked a straight-forward enough award at the time and TV pictures appeared to confirm contact had been made.

Albertz, the supplier of that late UEFA Cup winner on Thursday, made nomistake from the spot with his trusty left foot this time.

But Hearts, under the new regime, already looked like a more dangerous proposition than in their poor showing at Dunfermline in midweek.

Three times opportunities presented themselves for the home strikers - andthree times Stefan Klos denied them.

Gordon Durie, the most illustrious of the four former Ibroxmen, was denied twice in the space of a minute, first when he forced a tip over with a header from Scott Severin's cross and then when, from the resulting corner, Severin saw a shot charged down and the ball fell to him invitingly.

This time a low shot ensued and the German blocked with his legs.

The third chance resembled the latter when Durie and Scott Wilson went up for a header and the ball broke goalside of the last defender for Andy Kirk.

It was the clearest chance of the trio but the youngster found Klos in the way once more.

Hearts ended the half frustrated but knowing they had dominated proceedings. Indeed, the penalty apart, Antti Niemi - another ex-Ranger - had only been needed to make a single save.

That denied Arthur Numan but a couple of other chances had been there forthe visitors, the best of which was skied over by Kenny Miller from Numan's supply.

Flo had a poor game and missed a great chance to make it two when it wasstill 11 versus 11.

Miller beat the offside trap and set him up but somehow, with all the goal to aim at, he scuffed his shot wide.

Then came the fireworks with Reyna getting himself booked twice in a matter of 60 seconds.

The first was for a touchline foul on Grant Murray and the second for use of an arm on Kirk.

Arthur Numan repeated the trick four minutes later when he was booked for a foul on Robbie Neilson and then sent off for complaining.

Yet Rangers hung on with a combination of stout and often desperate defending and Klos' brilliance.

Their goal was always under pressure but Albertz, on an excellent counter, almost made it two.

It was a sensational afternoon and Klos was superb.

Teams:

Hearts: Niemi, Pressley, Petric (Milne 75), Fulton, Cameron, Murray, Durie, Severin (Tomaschek 81), Juanjo, Kirk, Neilson.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Locke, McSwegan.Booked: Murray, Juanjo, Pressley.

Rangers: Klos, Amoruso, Numan, Ferguson, Albertz, Reyna, de Boer, Konterman, Wilson, Flo (Tugay 71), Miller (Dodds 80).

Subs Not Used: Christensen, McCann, Ross.

Sent Off: Reyna (65), Numan (70).

Booked: Konterman, Albertz, Reyna, Numan, Tugay.Goals: Albertz 12 pen.

Att: 16,710

Ref: Stewart Dougal (Glasgow).


Taken from sportinglife.com