Ricksen offers relief for Rangers as two sent off

Hearts (0) 1 Rangers (0) 2

A Fernando Ricksen penalty in injury time, controversially awarded for a push on Sotirios Kyrgakios, won a quite extraordinary match at Tynecastle.

Former Celt Mark Burchill equalised with just three minutes remaining after Paul Hartley'?s free-kick had been pushed on to a post by Ronald Waterreus. That left time for Dado Prso to be shown a second yellow card for barging Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and for Saulius Mikoliunas to be ordered off for manhandling assistant referee Andy Davis when the penalty was given. The mood of jubilation among the travelling support was easy to understand. They may even have believed their success was pre-ordained.

Hearts had to cope not only with a Rangers side anxious to maintain their lead at the top of the table but also the burden of history, having failed to win any of the previous 13 meetings between the clubs at Tynecastle (losing 10 of those) in a sorry sequence dating vack to 1998.

It was a blessing, then, that the recent arrivals from Lithuania, Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis, were unaware of that wretched record. The wide men were unafraid to take on opponents and their quick feet and close control posed problems for the visitors.

The pair were equally happy to confuse their markers by switching positions and when they combined in the 19th minute Hearts should have gone ahead.

Mikoliunas was the provider, teasing Michael Ball before delivering a cross which Ronald Waterreus could only palm straight to Casnauskis 15 yards out who spooned his shot over.

Five minutes later it required an outstanding save from the Dutchman to maintain parity. Andy Webster's free-kick was met by Kyrgakios but the Greek's headed clearance fell for Mikoliunas and his full-blooded drive was turned against the post by Waterreus at full stretch.

Rangers, frankly, were not at the races and Gregory Vignal was forced to double up on Mikoliunas in an attempt to stifle the winger's menace.

The strength of Prso was Rangers' most potent weapon and the Croatian at times attempted to bore his way through the Hearts rearguard but, too often lacking support, his efforts came to nought.

Indeed, the first half drew to a close without Rangers having registered an effort on target, which displeased McLeish, and Prso was fortunate to escape with only a caution for elbowing Webster.

It was, consequently, somewhat against the run of play when Rangers took the lead in the 49th minute. A Hearts claim for handball against Marvin Andrews on the edge of his penalty area was rejected by referee Hugh Dallas, the ball rapidly switched to the other end and Prso played in Nacho Novo for the Spaniard to clip his 20th goal of the season beyond Gordon.

With a feint here and a step-over there, Mikoliunas fashioned an opening for his compatriot on the hour but Cesnauskis wanted too much time and was crowded out.

Rangers, possibly due to the supremacy they have enjoyed in this fixture, appeared content to hold what they had. Fernando Ricksen, attacking the second ball at a free-kick, forced a fine save from Gordon with a half-volley but the visitors were content to hit on the break.

By then the Lithuanians had tired or run out of ideas or both, although Vignal drew a yellow card for the late lunge which halted another Mikoliunas surge.

Match details

Hearts (4-4-2): Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Berra, Wallace; MacFarlane (Kizys 77). Hartley, McAllister (Burchill 81), Mikoliunas; Cesnauskis (Hamill 84), Miller.
Subs: Moilanen (g), McKenna, Wyness, Simmons.
Booked: Hartley. Sent off: Mikoliunas.
Rangers (4-4-2): Waterreus; Ross, Andrews, Kyrgakios, Ball; Ricksen, Ferguson, Buffel (Namouchi 70), Vignal; Prso, Novo.
Subs: McGregor (g), Burke, Smith, Thompson, Malcolm, Rae.
Booked: Prso, Vignal.
Sent off: Prso.
Referee: Hugh Dallas.


Taken from telegraph.co.uk