Burke breaks brave Hearts

Arveladze 22, Burke 52 | Kirk 11

Patrick Glenn at Ibrox
Sunday December 21, 2003
The Observer

In Rangers' present form, even unconvincing victory by the minimum margin tends to be acclaimed as a triumph. Having come back through Shota Arveladze and Chris Burke after conceding the opening goal to Andy Kirk, the Ibrox side at least rediscovered some spirit, even if their overall performance remained sufficiently short of mesmerising to cause a few flutters among their fans.

Those who concern themselves with these things were quick to point out that the goal with which Kirk gave Heart of Midlothian their early lead was the 7,000th the Tynecastle side have scored in their near-130 years' existence. In terms of the order of aesthetic value, it would be a solid contender for 7,000th place.

The visiting players who made up a rather makeshift starting line-up - manager Craig Levein without four regular picks because of injury and suspension - did not dwell on the prettiness of the goal, preferring to celebrate the rarity of establishing an advantage at Ibrox, even if it was relatively short-lived.

It had been threatened, too. Indeed, twice in the preceding few seconds, Rangers had appeared a little fortunate not to concede from corners from the Hearts right, as a Kevin McKenna header was stopped on the line by Arveladze and another was deflected narrowly wide.

It was from the third corner that there developed an untidy scramble, the ball finally breaking to Kirk. The Irishman swung his right foot, barely made contact and miscued the ball far to the right of Stefan Klos, as close to the post as it was possible to get without rebounding.

It was a genuine shock for the home side, who had made a much livelier and more promising start than in recent matches, as if desperate to atone for the recent sluggishness that had led to their elimination from Europe and their slipping eight points behind Celtic in the championship.

Yet, it was after their equaliser, an event that should have brought added impetus, that Rangers lapsed into a period of pedestrianism - it lasted all the way to the interval - in which they should have fallen behind again.

It was a long ball from defence that sent Michael Mols clear through the middle, the striker's shot saved by the outstretched left foot of Craig Gordon. The goalkeeper was unfortunate to see the ball spin into the air, straight to Arveladze, who sent the header dropping just under the crossbar from six yards.

But, with Hearts playing cleverly and quickly out of defence, there was the ever-present possibility of harrying the home defenders into panic. It happened when McKenna's cross from the right ran through to Robert Sloan, but the youngster's left-foot shot, from only 10 yards, was directed straight at Klos.

Kirk should have completed a double when Sloan's free-kick from the right allowed him a free header near the far post, but he glanced the ball wide from only three yards out.

That Hearts' wastefulness would be punished invariably seems inevitable in these circumstances and retribution was delivered when Rangers nosed ahead soon after the break. Peter Lovenkrands supplied Mols through the inside-left channel and the Dutch striker's low centre to Burke was impeccable, allowing the winger to tap the ball over the line from six yards' range.

As happened previously, however, Rangers' goal seemed to have a galvanising effect on Hearts, who would have equalised but for the exceptional goalkeeping of Klos. Following a period of sustained pressure, Neil McFarlane crossed from the left, McKenna leapt and sent the header towards the top right-hand corner. The German made an extraordinary effort to get there and push the ball away for a corner with his fingertips.

Without the steadying influence of Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Alan Maybury in defence - the midfielder, Scott Severin, coping admirably beside Patrick Kisnorbo in the centre - and, until the last seven minutes, the threat of the towering Mark de Vries in attack, Hearts gave a creditable performance, falling a little short in ruthlessness and deadliness.

Taken from the Scotsman