Yes McCann do, Rangers

AFRAID that there would be a repeat of the hooliganism which had scarred Rangers’ visit to Pittodrie three weeks ago, Hearts’ security chiefs promised that they would not be admitting anyone to last night’s match who was under the influence. Neither they nor the club’s manager, Craig Levein, had been counting on the arrival of a rabble-rousing Ibrox side still intoxicated by their defeat of Celtic in midweek.

Ronald De Boer and Neil McCann scored the goals, one in each half of a convincing performance, further to consolidate Rangers’ resurgence under Alex McLeish. If no damage was done in the stands, there was plenty evidence of it on the pitch.

"We got away with 2-0," said Levein. "We were taught a lesson, particularly during the second half, in how to pass the ball and keep possession."

The late goal that settled the issue - a lung-bursting stunner of a solo effort by McCann - provided an appropriate signature with which to sign off a stylish display by the visitors. Given a surprise start by McLeish after a period in which he has played second fiddle to Peter Lovenkrands, the Scottish winger’s virtuoso performance found a memorable crescendo eight minutes from the end.

After collecting the ball deep in his own half, he set off on a searching run that seemed to gather pace as it grew in length, whizzing past three opponents and finding his way into the penalty area with dashing simplicity. McCann then had the audacity to look up and whip it into the far corner without so much as a second thought.

McLeish, who flies out to see UEFA Cup opponents Feyenoord playing Groningen tonight, has given the Rangers players three days off after a busy period in which his cry for more effort has been heeded. "They looked very fresh, but I am sure they are shattered," he said. "It was a great performance.

"When you see our centre-forwards and wingers chasing back, you know you are making progress. The silky skills are lovely, but it is other things that are pleasing me. It has been a great week."

The travelling support, who chanted McLeish’s name for the first time, would doubtless agree. Already encouraged by what he has extracted from Dick Advocaat’s squad, they will be heartened also by the manager’s refusal to deny speculation that he is on the verge of signing Wolverhampton Wanderers full-back Kevin Muscat. "When Rangers have something to say, we will let you know," he emphasised.

The strength and composure with which Rangers finished the Old Firm derby didn’t return immediately. With Craig Moore and Tony Vidmar absent through injury, the visitors resorted to a back four in which Bert Konterman partnered Lorenzo Amoruso in the centre. Even the former Italian under-21 defender, who has once again been blethering about playing for Scotland, was stretched by Hearts’ early endeavour.

Ricardo Fuller, in particular, had an unsettling effect on the player who seems to be referred to only as "the big man" nowadays. When the Jamaican scampered on to a head-flick by Scott Severin, his low drive across the face of the goal was a relief to Rangers’ hirsute centre-half. It was a let-off, too, for Amoruso’s team-mates, who went on to pummel Hearts in a first half that left their goal creaking.

Rangers’ failure to find the net during one particular siege on the home goal is a mystery that must rank alongside the Ibrox club’s decision to sell Antti Niemi. In the space of one frantic minute, the Finnish goalkeeper was flinging himself about the six-yard box like a man possessed, parrying a glancing header by De Boer, beating out a volley by Shota Arveladze, and then somehow finding the stamina to haul himself up and gather another effort by the Georgian striker.

That was nothing to the acrobatics he performed five minutes before the interval. Amoruso surged out of defence with the gumption of a true braveheart, and fed his compatriot-to-be, McCann, down the left.

Almost as soon as Arveladze’s head had connected with the winger’s cross, the goalkeeper was spiralling skywards to tip it over the bar. "He made some exceptional saves," said Levein. "I just wish we wouldn’t give him as much to do."

Barry Ferguson, who was credited with turning the Old Firm derby in extra-time, also imposed himself on this match. In one strutting, swaggering purple patch midway through the first half, he tried his luck three times, most notably with a low effort palmed away by Niemi, and most imaginatively with an inventive, curling effort that dipped past the base of the post.

Even that didn’t quite have the quality that was written all over Rangers’ breakthrough. Tore Andre Flo, who had been his usual anonymous self for much of the match, showed a startling presence of mind when he stepped over a cross by McCann to set up De Boer 12 yards out. The Dutchman took a touch, an astute one at that, before sidefooting it away from Niemi and into the net.

The broken deadlock opened out the match, and created more space in which Rangers could operate. McLeish must have been tearing his hair out in response to the profligacy with which his team went about their business. That man Niemi was responsible for the failure of shots by Ferguson and McCann to find the net, but Arveladze had no excuse when he slapped an easy chance wide after wriggling free of a cluster of defenders.

McCann, though, took it upon himself single-handedly to settle a match that left Hearts fans with only the misfortune of Hibs to be smug about. "There’s only one Sauzee," they chanted.

McLeish must be relieved to hear that Rangers’ supporters, albeit belatedly, are saying the same about him.

Taken from the Scotsman