Hearts break Ibrox hoodoo

STEPHEN HALLIDAY AT IBROX

Rangers 0

Hearts 1
Hamill (50)

Referee: D McDonald. Attendance: 47,467

JOE HAMILL last night joined Allan Johnston in modern Hearts folklore as he earned the Gorgie club their first win at Ibrox for eight years.

Not since Johnston’s hat-trick in January 1996 had a Hearts side headed out of Govan looking forward to a win bonus in their pay packets. But 20-year-old Hamill’s 50th-minute strike gave Craig Levein’s weakened side a famous triumph and also ended a run of 22 SPL fixtures between the sides without a win for Hearts.

Levein, while deeply satisfied with his maiden managerial win over Rangers, was more concerned his players use it as a platform to make a sustained challenge to the Old Firm next season. "I know it was an end-of-season game and neither of us had an awful lot to play for," he said, "but from the point of view of winning here and gaining confidence, I think we can use this to come into these games more confident of winning than we have recently."

For Michael Mols and Frank and Ronald de Boer, it was a dismal farewell as they made their final appearances at Ibrox. Mols, in tears when he was replaced by Ronald de Boer 11 minutes from time, failed to reappear at full-time when the rest of the Rangers players took a half-hearted bow in front of their supporters. Save for the introduction of Allan McGregor in goal for the rested Stefan Klos, Alex McLeish stuck with the starting line-up beaten in stoppage time at Parkhead on Saturday.

Mols’ lack of spark and sharpness which has sadly characterised the striker for so long, was soon evident when he sought to touch a Stephen Hughes cross back into the path of a team-mate rather than direct a shot on goal from a good position some ten yards out. The collective groan from the Rangers fans articulated their frustration at the decline of an outstanding talent.

Hearts, missing players such as Alan Maybury, Steven Pressley and Mark de Vries, could take plenty of encouragement from their efforts in containing the home side and posing a threat of their own on the counter attack.

Graham Weir was the lone striker in the 4-5-1 formation set out by Craig Levein, but he received energetic support from Hamill and Paul Hartley whenever Hearts moved forward and it was the visitors who came closest to a breakthrough when Hamill slid a low shot narrowly off target after pouncing on a loose clearance from Alan Hutton but the young Rangers full-back was able to redeem himself on the half hour. Steven Boyack picked out Scott Severin, Hearts captain for the night, with a corner from the right and the defender’s powerful header had the beating of McGregor but was nodded off the line by Hutton.

McLeish made two changes at the start of the second half, Maurice Ross replacing Frank de Boer while Peter Lovenkrands returned from a six-match injury absence and took over from Hughes on the left of midfield.

It was the defensive reshuffle, however, which lead to the opening goal. Hutton, who moved into central defence alongside Zurab Khizanishvili as Ross filled the right-back role, was woefully short with an attempted pass back to McGregor. Hamill seized upon the error and strode on unchallenged to steer the most composed of finishes beyond the exposed Rangers goalkeeper.

Hearts, suddenly sensed the end of a wretched run of results against Rangers and the lively Weir stung McGregor’s palms with a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area.

A disappointed McLeish paid tribute to his departing players despite the dismal end to their Ibrox careers. "Mols was absolutely sensational when he came to Rangers but injury cut him down in his prime," he said. "I was lucky enough that he got back to a level where he could make a contribution last season. He was a brilliant professional and without him and Ronald de Boer, we could not have won the treble last year."

Taken from the Scotsman