DRAWN WITH THE WIND

HEARTS 1

RANGERS 1

THIS wasn't even close to being hailed one of the finest games Tynecastle has witnessed but rarely can there have been a more gutsy encounter as two sides utterly desperate to shoulder their way through the Champions League door collided with a teeth-clattering ferocity.

And while there was absolutely nothing subtle about this match - arip-snorter of a game, Alex McLeish called it - serious criticism would be churlish.

There wasn't a player whose shirt hadn't become a few pounds heavier because every man had sweated buckets in pursuit of the spoils. Yet, despite the effort, the aggression, the passion and heroics the gap between Hearts and Rangers remained the same when the thunder had subsided.

In fact, the only winners, in SPL terms, yesterday were Celtic even though they were busy at the National Stadium collecting the season's first trophy. Hearts' failure to claim maximum points means Celtic can win the championship when they come up against the Edinburgh side before the split.

If Celtic take care of Caley Thistle, Livingston and then Hearts at Celtic Park in the first week of next month that will be it, game over, but of course that won't make any difference to either Hearts or Rangers, who have known for some time they are competing for second best.

The contest remains fierce but I suspect Hearts will feel the more disappointed with yesterday's draw especially since they had started quickly, yet again taking the lead in only 10 minutes with a superblycrafted goal scored by Edgar Jankauskas which stunned the Ibrox side and their supporters, who along with Hearts' legions, stood and applauded in memory of Jimmy Johnstone before kick off.

The way 17, 000 fans observed the time for one of the game's legends was acredit to both clubs but it wasn't long before the usual amount of venom was being spat into the atmosphere setting the scene for what was probably always going to be a bruising encounter. So much at stake, so much more than points to be lost.

McLeish, of course, is leaving at the end of this campaign while Graham Rix is hoping to be kept on by the Tynecastle taskmasters, the Romanovs, who make huge demands on their employees and who would have been less than enamoured with only one point. Indeed, word had it they may have been unhappy again with the Rix selection but it did look as though he'd picked a powerful side.

He made four changes to make way for the return of Steven Pressley, Julien Brellier, who was outstanding, Rudi Skacel, and Jankauskas while McLeish made only one alteration, leaving out Kris Boyd for Peter Lovenkrands.

Having struggled to get with the pace in the first half Rangers did much better in the second and Thomas Buffel, who was fortunate still to be on the pitch after using an elbow against Pressley, grabbed the goal which maintained McLeish's hope he can leave Paul le Guen with the chanceof Champions League football.

However, the new manager might not fancy too many of the players who failed to impose themselves in that first half although you had to feel some sympathy for Lovenkrands because of the appalling service provided by his midfield, who didn't seem to realise that high passes to this player are pretty useless.

Even Barry Ferguson was guilty of lobbing the ball forward, but he was a bit more like himself in the second half, although the best player on the pitch was Hearts'sitting midfield player Brellier.

He did everything. He made crucial tackles and he made himself available when others were being closed down. He also stepped forward into the spaces when Paul Hartley and Skacel, who was substituted late in the match when he refused to shake hands with Rix, began to tire.

The match began at a frantic pace and we didn't have long to wait for the opening goal. After a good early run Buffel was easily bundled out of Possess on just inside his own half and the ball was played out right by Pressley to Deividas Cesnauskis, who Casually took out Ian Murray and Sotirios Kyrgiakos with a simple lob.

Cesnnauskis sped towards Rangers' box and at precisely the right moment flicked a pass to his right for Hartley, who had stormed into the right-hand side of the box. He squared to Jankaus and with Rangers Defenders scattered all over the place the big fellow had the simple task of knocking the ball in from close range.

Buffel did have a chance in 19 Minutes when Dado Prso knocked the ball inside to Ferguson and he sent the Belgian clear. But Buffel failed to make the most of his chance although Rangers continued to push at Hearts with a Lovenkrands shot being deflected narrowly wide for a corner which came to nothing.

The frustration which had been eating away at Lovenkrands' temperament seemed to spread through the blue ranks and Chris Burke was booked for kicking the ball away after he had fouled Takis Fyssas five minutes from the break. But before the players could get a breather Hartley was also cautioned for shouting at referee Craig Thomson and then Burke's low delivery across the face of Craig Gordon's goal just needed a final touch for the equaliser as the half clattered to a close.

As the players left the pitch they were still squabbling and Skacel and Prso had to be dragged apart.

Rangers were in more determined mood in the second period and their fans started rising to celebrate the equaliser just after a Lovenkrands' free kick - Skacel had fouled Ferguson 25 yards out - had been blocked and the ball sat up perfectly for Buffel.

His volley was zipping towards the net until Gordon hurled his body to the right and somehow managed to get a bunch of fingers to the ball. It was atruly amazing save from the best keeper in the country.

However, Buffel got his reward in 65 minutes when Prso passed the ball quickly on to Burke on the right and the little winger maintained the speed of the move by sending in a smart delivery across goal. Buffel stole in at the far post and squeezed the ball into the net even though Gordon got a touch.

Aminute later the keeper had to make another of his flying saves to deny Prso, but the big Croat was growing increasingly tetchy and having already been booked was in danger of a second card for stupid, petty fouls.

The next card, though, was shown to Skacel, another who was out of sorts, and then McLeish, who could sense the referee's patience with Prso had reached breaking point, took the striker off for his own good. Nacho Novo took over, ran about a lot, but didn't really change anything, although if he'd timed his run on to a Ferguson pass he might have scored instead of being flagged for offside.

The game was almost won by Hearts in 85 minutes when a terrific 30-yard shot by Robbie Neilson, who hasn't scored this season, smacked Ronald Waterreus' bar.

After that players continued to snarl at one another and Brellier was booked for blocking Buffel just as he was about to escape into space and that was it. Finally the players were able to stop charging and gasping for oxygen as they dragged their exhausted and battered bodies indoors.

MATCH STATS

HEARTS

MAN BY MAN

Craig Gordon: Produced world-class save to deny Buffel at start of second half. The Scotland No.1 is best keeper in Britain bar none. 7

Robbie Neilson: Few loose passes but solid enough at back. Cracked bar with 30-yarder near end. 6

Takis Fyssas: Coped well with threat of Burke in first half but allowed him to get cross in for equaliser. 6

Steven Pressley: Strong and commanding throughout. Just edged bruising battle with Prso. 7

Andy Webster:Atower of strength at back. Won almost every tackle and dominated aerial challenges. 7

Rudi Skacel: Tynecastle cult hero turned in another impressive display. Dangerous throughout. 7

Paul Hartley: Immense in first half when he ran show. Great run and cross to put opening goal on a plate. 7

Roman Bednar:Good foil for Jankauskus. Never stopped running and linked play superbly. 6

Deividas Cesnauskis: Drifted in and out of game. Dangerous cutting in from right. 6

Julien Brellier: Valuable contribution. Gave back four plenty of protection and didn't allow Rangers' creative players to function properly. 8

Edgaras Jankauskas: Showed tremendous composure to put Hearts in front. Great touch and technique for big guy and led line magnificently. 8

Subs: Saulius Mikoliunas - on too late to make impression, 2 Calum Elliot - replaced a tired Bednar but didn't get sniff, 3.

RANGERS

MAN BY MAN

Ronald Waterreus: No chance with Jankauskas goal. Decent handling otherwise and comfortable with ball at his feet. 6

Alan Hutton: Maturing every week. Top-class defensive display and contributed plenty going forward. 8

Ian Murray: Caught out at goal to delight of home fans who booed his every touch. 6

Julien Rodriguez: Exceptional timing on deck and in air prevented Hearts going in at break two or three ahead. 7

Sotirios Kyrgiakos: Cut out usual nonsense to prove he can be decent defender. 7

Brahim Hemdani: Improved after lacklustre first half and almost made it into opposition box 6

Barry Ferguson: Never stopped driving side forward. Took hefty knock but bravely battled on. 7

Chris Burke: Subdued for long spells but still Rangers' most influential performer. Great ball to set up equaliser. Missed terrific chance near end. 7

Thomas Buffel: Arrived at back post to turn home Burke cross just moments after Gordon denied him with the save of the season. 7

Dado Prso: Worked tirelessly, covering an incredible amount of ground. Booked for clattering Pressley. 6

Peter Lovenkrands: Plenty of aggression but no real cutting edge. Hooked 10 minutes after re-start. 5

Subs: Nacho Novo - replaced Prso late on, 3. Kris Boyd - got more than half an hour but hardly had a kick, 3.

MOMENT THAT CHANGED THE GAME: Gordon's save from Buffel as Rangers grew in confidence

Taken from the Daily Record