Hearts no longer in awe of Old Firm

PAUL KIDDIE AT TYNECASTLE

THE points gap which separates the Old Firm and the rest of the teams in the Premierleague tells its own story as regards the gulf between the Glasgow giants and their rivals.

For too long now both Celtic and Rangers have had it their own way on the domestic front and a remarkable 34 points is currently the difference between the league leaders and third-placed Hearts.

It is the kind of gap which in all likelihood is unlikely to be reduced significantly in the next few seasons, but that won’t stop every other top flight manager from trying his best to buck the trend.

And the encouraging news for Hearts is that boss Craig Levein appears to be fashioning a team which looks more and more capable of edging closer to the SPL’s big two.

If performances against the Old Firm is the yardstick by which progress is gauged, then there is plenty to be encouraged about down Gorgie way these days with the team clearly moving in the right direction under the former Scotland defender.

The Jambos have faced both championship-chasing outfits three times in the last month and can feel frustrated at having just three points, courtesy of the epic 2-1 triumph over Martin O’Neill’s side in the Capital, to show for their efforts.

Last week Levein took his men to Parkhead and the hosts had to battle every inch of the way to keep their title bid on track with a disputed penalty from Alan Thompson all that separated the teams on the day. And yesterday it was Rangers who felt the force of the maroon’s new-found confidence.

The final scoreline of 2-0 had a depressingly familiar look to it in favour of the Light Blues - but how they were made to work for their spoils with Hearts arguably the better side for at least an hour of the game.

There had been suggestions that Levein may have been tempted to rest some of his stars who were just one booking away from missing the start of the new season, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster, Scott Severin and Mark de Vries all walking a disciplinary tightrope.

And after Kilmarnock’s draw at Dunfermline had all but sealed his team’s place in the UEFA Cup, who could have blamed Levein for erring on the side of caution?

However, there was a real sense in the Tynecastle camp that they were capable of taking at least a point from the game and apart form the missing Stephane Mahe and Phil Stamp, the starting XI was probably the strongest line-up at Levein’s disposal. And for long spells an upset looked on the cards.

Mikel Arteta skimmed the cross bar in the third minute and although Rangers had more possession than their hosts would have preferred, every Hearts player worked his socks off to prevent any further openings.

In fact, it was De Vries, well short of match fitness after recovering from an hamstring tear against Dunfermline, who came closest to scoring in the opening period. The powerful Dutch ace picked up a pass from Jean-Louis Valois before moving menacingly towards goal in the penalty box. His left-foot shot back across Stefan Klos appeared to heading for the far corner of the net until the German, at full stretch, got a fingertip to the ball to send it behind for a corner.

The longer the game went so the tension continued to rise and perhaps the turning point in proceedings came just short of the hour mark when Pressley was injured after a clash with his goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen as the pair went for a high ball. Although the skipper was able to resume after treatment he was clearly struggling and within seven minutes of his injury, the visitors had taken the lead.

Rangers looked to have wasted a glorious chance to break the deadlock when Shota Arveladze saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Moilanen after De Vries had been penalised for hand ball as he jumped with Lorenzo Amoruso in the area. But two minutes later the opener duly arrived, although frustratingly for the home side, they were the architects of their own downfall.

De Vries had made another dangerous break when he allowed Valois to continue the attack. But the Frenchman, who had a disappointing afternoon in midfield, carelessly lost possession and Hearts were severely punished.

Stephen Hughes raced upfield before finding Arveladze down the right and his cross was met by Ronald de Boer who sent a header flashing past Moilanen at his near post.

It was real hammer blow for the Jambos and one from which they never fully recovered.

The limping Pressley somehow managed a despairing goal-saving tackle on substitute Steven Thompson after Moilanen had misjudged his dash off his line but moments later there was to be no escape as the Ibrox outfit made the game safe.

De Boer this time found Lovenkrands and the Danish star’s drive took an unfortunate deflection off Webster’s boot on its way past the helpless Moilanen.

The industrious De Vries almost pulled one back in the closing minutes, Klos again denying the Dutchman.

And it was a relieved McLeish at the final whistle as Rangers returned to the SPL summit by the fact they have scored one more goal than Celtic.

"When we missed the penalty you wonder if it is going to be your year but credit to the goalkeeper he made a fantastic save," he said.

"Credit also to Hearts, they played their strongest team and had a go at us as they said they would. It was a really tough game for us but it was important not to panic and we scored a fantastic goal which I think took the steam out of Hearts. Stefan Klos made a fantastic save from De Vries in the first half and it’s saves like that which can win you matches."

Hearts may have ultimately lost but Levein and his men can at least take some comfort from the fact they are almost certain to be playing in Europe next season - and the fact they gave the other half of the Old Firm another stern examination.

Levein had been looking to take something from the match to make third place mathematically certain but despite the loss the Jambos will go into the last match of the season at home to Dundee on Sunday boasting a ten-goal cushion over Killie, who entertain Celtic.

"We played some good stuff, worked hard but on the day our best was just a little bit short. Part of the problem was the injury to Steven Pressley but we were not far away at all," he said.

Taken from the Scotsman