Rangers 3 - 2 Hearts

RANGERS scaled the summit of the Bank of Scotland Premierleague for the first time in almost 14 months after emerging victorious from an engrossing encounter with Hearts. It is a remarkable feat for a team that appeared on the verge of self-destruction only two months ago when a combination of defeats to Celtic, CSKA Moscow and Marítimo threatened not only to undermine their season but also the job security of Alex McLeish.

The manager was bursting with pride yesterday but ever the pragmatist, he tempered enthusiasm with the realisation that the pressure will only intensify on his team, who are now the hunted having been in pursuit for so long.

Celtic's 2-2 draw against Dundee enabled Rangers to engineer a one-point advantage atop the division, the first time they have held supremacy over Martin O'Neill's men since October 4 last year.

Nacho Novo, who endured a wretched week off the field, got back to business with his 12th and 13th goals of a profitable season, with Jamie McAllister's own goal contributing to the unfortunate downfall of an imaginative and indefatigable Hearts under the adventurous tutelage of John Robertson.

As has become the norm at Ibrox these days, victory was garnished with controversy. Robertson left Ibrox aggrieved that Jean-Alain Boumsong had not been red carded for the foul on Mark de Vries inside the area, from which Paul Hartley shot the visitors into the lead from the spot.

There were also incidents before and near the end of the game which Robertson keenly body-swerved. The first was an apparent altercation between two Hearts players, Ramón Pereira and Andy Webster,

during the warm-up, which required the intervention of a third party, McAllister, to defuse. Craig Gordon, the goalkeeper, was also involved in an alleged incident with a ballboy towards the end of the game although the club's security official, Tom Purdy, said afterwards that no action had been taken against the Scotland internationalist.

It all made for a classic contest between two teams who, in the boxing vernacular, stood toe-to-toe until the final bell. McLeish and Robertson adopted almost identical formations with Mark de Vries and Dado Prso providing formidable focal points to the respective line-ups with dynamic assistance provided, most notably from the matchwinning Novo.

Having been informed that his stamp on Stephen Pearson during last week's Old Firm derby will be referred to the SFA disciplinary committee after review, and suffered slogans of hate being daubed on a wall outside his home, the Spaniard reiterated his innocence and expressed relief that he has made the headlines for the right reasons this time.

"I would never stamp on anyone. It was an accident, Pearson said that too, but I have no control over the SFA decision," Novo said. "It has been hard to deal with but I have retained my concentration and I am delighted we are top of the league, even though there is still a long way to go."

The atmosphere at Ibrox at various stages of the afternoon ranged from funereal to that of a funfare. Either the UEFA Cup celebrations had taken more out of the supporters than the players, or a usually voluble minority of Rangers' contingent had been racked by guilt after the widespread condemnation of their behaviour in the Old Firm encounter.

With Celtic's struggles at Dens Park gratefully revealed by Andy Cameron (who ironically compered Jackie McNamara's testimonial dinner last night), Rangers sensed an eagerly-anticipated chance to break their rivals' stranglehold. Like a mountaineer enduring grim adversity en route to the summit only to panic before the pinnacle, Rangers looked up and suddenly seemed struck with vertigo.

Such anxiety was accentuated by the bravado of the visitors. Hearts may have taken their eye off the ball while pursuing European recognition but their sparkle was duly restored at Ibrox. Boumsong's stock has risen sharply in his short spell at the club but he was presented with a fresh experience yesterday: finishing second best to de Vries.

The Dutchman with the pear-shaped physique and improbable turn of pace succeeded where John Hartson failed in the recent derby matches by stripping the Frenchman of his joie de vivre and even forcing him in to the kind of error that, under normal circumstances, would have resulted in red card.

Webster's commanding header from deep caught Boumsong flat-footed and as his bulky nemesis bore in on goal, the Frenchman's chopped him down. Dougie McDonald's justification for keeping Boumsong on the field was that he had shepherded de Vries wide of Stefan Klos's goal before committing the crime, ensuring no obvious goal threat.

Regardless, Hartley thumped the penalty past the German. At the other end, Prso's wastefulness fuelled his manager's anger. The Croatian made an embarrassing mess of Peter Løvenkrands' inviting pass across goal and followed up with a sinew-straining header that went spectacularly wrong.

Alas, when it seemed the Ibrox side were heading for a half-time hollering, McAllister was the unlikely source of comfort when he turned another low Løvenkrands' cross past his own keeper in a moment of unavoidable panic as Fernando Ricksen prowled at the back post.

Stephen Pressley's enforced removal at the interval was a greater blow to Robertson than Maurice Ross's stricken state was to McLeish and the worst fears of the Hearts manager were confirmed when Novo's endeavours paid dividends. Tormenting Patrick Kisnorbo at will, the Spaniard scampered past the young Australian and provided a fitting finish to a delightful lofted pass from Zurab Khizanishvili.

Rangers were suddenly top of the league but did not rest easy on the coveted perch. De Vries' perennial nuisance value was an unsettling experience and an assured header from Robbie Neilson's cross heaped more intrigue on a compelling drama. Marvin Andrews, who had endured a fraught time without the usual flawless guidance of Boumsong, was slow to react and paid the price.

He almost redeemed himself with a ferocious header which Gordon brilliantly batted away but it was appropriate that the outstanding performer on a day rich in entertainment should have the final say. Stephen Hughes, an effective substitute, collected a stray ball inside the penalty area and a deft chip with his left foot found Novo free at the back post. The striker headed the winner past Gordon to provide tangible reward for the vastly improved efforts of his side during a 16-match unbeaten sequence.

Taken from sportinglife.com