Rangers 0 Hearts 1

Hearts gate-crashed the Ibrox leaving do for Michael Mols and the De Boer twins by recording their first victory at Ibrox since January 1996.

Joe Hamill netted the only goal of the match to end a 22-game winless run against Rangers that dated back almost six years.

The result was hugely pleasing to Jambos boss Craig Levein, who has maintained his side's reputation as the best outside the Old Firm for the second season running and under difficult circumstances both financially and politically too.

But the pre-match build-up had centred around the final Ibrox appearances of captain for the night Mols and fellow Dutchmen Ronald and Frank de Boer.

There might be other departures too, with midfielder Mikel Arteta the most likely suspect and that would be a shame for Rangers after this display.

Chris Burke apart, he was often the only Ranger willing to take on opponents and came the closest to giving his side the lead before the break.

The opportunity had been all his own work as he had been bundled over just outside the box on the left by Paul Hartley and elected to take the free-kick himself.

It was cleverly placed as well as firmly struck and would have gone in at the near post had Craig Gordon, the Scotland Under-21 international goalkeeper, reacted in time to make a low stop.

There were other, half chances with Burke having earlier taken down a superb lofted pass from Arteta and fired a first time effort wide.

Mols sent a skimming drive skidding wide as well but the two best chances of the first half belonged to the visitors.

Alan Hutton gifted the first to fellow rookie Hamill with a poor touch on the edge of his box. Hamill had all the goal to aim at but fired wastefully wide.

Hutton redeemed himself on the half-hour mark, however, by blocking Scott Severin's header from a Steven Boyack corner on the line.

Severin and Boyack will also be saying their goodbyes soon as they have been told the Tynecastle club cannot afford to offer them new deals.

Manager Craig Levein was looking ahead to next season with his team selection, however, as top scorer Mark de Vries and defender Alan Maybury were both left out in case they picked up bookings and were suspended for games that actually meant something.

Likewise, Rangers manager Alex McLeish had told goalkeeper Stefan Klos that for him the season was over so Allan McGregor could pick up some more experience before being shunted off on loan next term.

It was all very unsatisfactory stuff as far as the home fans were concerned and the watching Berti Vogts could not have failed to spot that striker Steven Thompson was having a clumsy game that will hasten his relegation to the bench next season when Dado Prso pulls on a blue shirt.

Zura Khizanishvili was suffering similarly at the other end and his tendency to try to play his way out of trouble, and not always managing it, means only an injury crisis will get him a game at centre back once Jean-Alain Boumsong and Marvin Andrews arrive.

The Georgian could still make a midfield position his own however, especially if Fernando Ricksen is punted in the summer.

Frank de Boer was replaced at half-time by Maurice Ross and Peter Lovenkrands was given the second half to impress watching Denmark scouts when he filled in for Stephen Hughes.

Within five minutes of the restart Hearts took the lead through Hamill, who seized on to an under-hit back pass from Hutton, who had moved to centre back so Ross could play on the right.

The 20-year-old had little difficulty slotting past McGregor, who was required to make a save from Graham Weir not long after.

Few equalising chances materialised and referee Dougie McDonald showed no interest in awarding Rangers a penalty when Paolo Vanoli went to ground in a crowded box near the hour mark.

The phoney war nature of the contest was illustrated by the absence of any yellow cards until the 74th minute, when Hearts midfielder Neil Janczyk was booked for a late challenge on Hutton.

Thompson then sent a close range header from an Arteta corner wide before Ronald de Boer finally made his entry in the 79th minute, replacing Mols.

There was a standing ovation for Mols, who was clearly moved, but his fellow countryman was unable to provide a happy ending for the party.

A booking for Hutton soon followed, with the defender having made a reckless challenge on Patrick Kisnorbo, who was the next to be shown a yellow card for a foul on Burke as the game became more and more fragmented.

Teams

Rangers: McGregor, Hutton, Khizanishvili, Frank de Boer (Ross 45), Vanoli, Ricksen, Arteta, Hughes (Lovenkrands 45), Burke, Mols (Ronald de Boer 79), Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, MacKenzie.

Booked: Hutton.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Severin, Kisnorbo, Boyack (Sloan 80), MacFarlane, Hartley, Janczyk, Hamill, Weir (McKenna 75).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Wyness, Simmons.

Booked: Janczyk, Kisnorbo.

Goals: Hamill 50.

Att: 47,467

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).

Taken from the Scotsman