Hearts muscle way into contention

However durable it may prove, Heart of Midlothian have already achieved the first objective of their Lithuanian benefactor, Vladimir Romanov, who declared on his arrival at Tynecastle that he would build a team capable of splitting Glasgow's Old Firm.

Not only does the Scottish Premier League show Hearts five points ahead of Celtic and 11 in front of Rangers after Saturday's 1-0 home victory over the defending champions, but the bookies have also installed George Burley's players as second favourites for the title.

With Celtic evens and Rangers at 3-1 against, Hearts have moved into the middle at 2-1, a far cry from the 250-1 against which was there for the taking at the end of July. Eight wins out of eight have slashed the odds and seen the team equal the achievement of their 1914 counterparts in the legendary side which marched off to the First World War in a 600-strong Pals' battalion of the Royal Scots, few of whom survived the carnage of the Battle of the Somme.

In a notably apt conjunction of events, Saturday's match was also the occasion for a collection to raise money for the next stage of the development of the monument to the 1914 team at Contalmaison. Just as the sacrifice of the players of a previous era has come alive for the Hearts supporters of today, the current generation of fans is animated by the prospect of their club justifying their often touted claim to be the third force of Scottish football.

Romanov, draped in his maroon and white scarf at the front of the directors' box, embraced the revivalist mood he has engendered when he punched the air at the final whistle, but he was restraint itself compared to the Rt Hon George Foulkes, formerly Minister of State at the Scottish office and now a New Labour milord, who was conducting the Hearts fans in a lung-bursting rendition of their infectious club anthem.

If nobody could begrudge them their euphoria - Hibernian fans excepted, obviously - there were a couple of pointers for those prepared to accommodate a longer perspective. One neutral in the main stand described the fixture as a contest between "two poor teams".

It would be more accurate to say that Hearts and Rangers were two teams playing poorly. Hearts can live with that description because even champions leaven artistry with artisan performances, but they are entitled to be concerned at the loss of Saturday's goalscorer, Roman Bednar, for what is likely to be several weeks because of cartilage damage.

Burley has set his team out to play in a simple but effective fashion, a 4-4-2 with a solid defence, diligent midfield and two beefy forwards well served with quick supply from the flanks. In most of their outings so far this season Hearts, to draw a Great War analogy, have shelled the opposition early and then send in troops to mop up the resistance.

Rudi Skacel, as one of the support wave, ran up seven goals in as many games, but Rangers took care of him by detailing Fernando Ricksen to follow him around the pitch. The Ibrox defence, however, has been notably vulnerable to aerial assault and it was Bednar who played the Red Baron on this occasion, spinning off Marvin Andrews to head home Paul Hartley's splendid corner.

He will not be replaced easily, simply because Hearts' resources remain skimpy. For clubs outside the Old Firm, such injuries - plus suspensions - traditionally sap midwinter campaigns. However, at least Hearts are ahead of themselves, which is more than can be said of Rangers.

What is, by their standards, a bizarre passage, will be extended by Wednesday's encounter with Inter Milan in an empty San Siro. Nacho Novo will be unavailable for that game, having limped off in the first half at Tynecastle with a foot injury.

Alex McLeish replaced Novo with Francis Jeffers, who has yet to score in a blue jersey. The Rangers manager also shuffled formations again, a habit which evidently perplexes many fans, although it produced a Champions League victory over Porto. He began with a 3-5-2, switched to 4-3-3 and ended with what was effectively 4-2-2-2.

"We went to three at the back because I had a good feeling about it,'' he said. "It was meant to nullify the threat from the big two forwards and to stretch Hearts. The game was frantic - not much football - and to lose from a set piece was galling considering the physical presence we have at the back.

"Hearts have a huge advantage and room for error. We don't, and now we have to pick up the troops. We played very well in our last European game after a poor result and we have to do it again."

Rangers slumped to fifth place as Hibernian went third with a fine 3-1 win over Motherwell at Fir Park, where Guillame Buezelin, Michael Stewart and Derek Riordan got their goals, while Richie Foran netted late for the home side.

Kilmarnock, too, moved ahead of Rangers when they drew 1-1 with Falkirk at Rugby Park. Kris Boyd put Killie ahead early but Alan Gow equalised soon after. Elsewhere, goals by Andy Tod and Greg Ross saw

Dunfermline Athletic through 2-1 at home to Dundee United, for whom David McCracken scored, while the bottom club, Livingston, earned a point in their goalless draw with Aberdeen.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk