McLeish takes his leave with hollow victory

Rangers (1) 2 Heart of Midlothian (0) 0

This was an occasion -metaphorically speaking - for the two-fingered gesture which is known in Glasgow as 'flashin' the Vicky', as Hearts flaunted the superiority over Rangers they have enjoyed throughout this season by fielding what was effectively a reserve team.

The forthright message was extended to Andy Webster, the Tynecastle centre-back who has refused to extend his contract with the club, who failed even to feature in the makeshift squad.

Rudi Skacel, meanwhile, who has sometimes provoked the ire of Hearts' autocratic owner, Vladimir Romanov, was made captain for the afternoon. The Czech midfield player confirmed that he has 'signed options' but was vague about the likelihood of his continued presence at Tynecastle.

"My future? That's a big question for me," he said. "I am happy in Edinburgh, with guys like 'Elvis' Pressley and my Greek brother, Takis Fyssas. We'll see. I would like to play in the Premiership, yes; maybe this year, maybe next year, maybe in five years."

To rub a little salt into the wounds on the afternoon that Alex McLeish took his leave of Ibrox, Hearts won the toss so that Rangers could not shoot towards their favoured end in the second half.

McLeish, meanwhile, took a sly pot at those who have not always agreed with his selection policy. The match programme had invited him to assemble a dream team. It was conventional enough - Ronaldinho, Pele, Maradona etc - but his substitutes raised an eyebrow, because alongside Canizares, Baresi, Gullit and Cantona was Hamed Namouchi, the French Tunisian whose inclusion in midfield has not always enchanted the Ibrox support.

"I asked Hamed if he would mind if I did that," McLeish said. "I wanted to show that my sense of humour was still there, but there was a wee point to be made because he's done well for us and not necessarily got the credit he deserved."

As for the reception he received from the Rangers fans at the end, McLeish, clearly moved by its warmth, said: "I was overwhelmed, humbled and honoured. I am No 11 in the line of Rangers managers and I have won trophies, so I would like to think that I can compare with some of the great managers.

"I think the moment I enjoyed most was at the end of last season, when the helicopter changed direction," this being a reference to the SPL trophy which looked as though it would be couriered by air to Fir Park, where Celtic were winning on the final day, until Motherwell scored twice to send the silverware to Easter Road, where Rangers' 1-0 victory over Hibernian gave McLeish and his players the title against heavy odds.

Speaking of odds, the Hearts selection attracted considerable betting by punters attracted by the 8/11 odds on the home team. One season-ticket holder had put down a handsome £13,000 but sweated through much of the first half as Hearts manufactured a succession of chances, only for Skacel and Michael Pospisil to put them wide or see accurate efforts well saved by Ronald Waterreus.

There was precious little fervour among the Rangers support until Kris Boyd outjumped the Tynecastle defenders to head home a corner kick he had won for himself with a venomous, tightly angled drive that was turned behind by Steven Banks.

At 1-0 there was still the live possibility of the anxious punters losing their stakes, but Boyd provided the needful in the 73rd minute after Gavin Rae had rolled the ball into his path.

"Boyd has shown that, if you get the ball in the box, he'll put it in the net. He'll get even more next season," McLeish predicted of the player whose 20 goals since he joined Rangers in January.

When added to the 17 he notched with Kilmarnock, it gives him the unique distinction of finishing the season as top scorer with two SPL clubs.

McLeish's final appearance prompted yet another round of questions about regrets and aspirations. "I'm going to take a break and I'd like to think that when I come back into football, it will be with all guns blazing again, but now it's time to go."

Match details

Rangers (4-4-2): Waterreus (Robinson 77); Murray, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Smith (A Rae 48); Burke, Hemdani, G Rae, Lovenkrands (Buffel 67); Prso, Boyd.
Subs: Malcolm, Novo, Lennon, Ashikodi.
Booked: Boyd.
Hearts (4-4-2): Banks; Barassa, Petras, Berra, Wallace; Beslija (Mikoliunas 81), Brellier (Johnston 61), Aguiar, Skacel; Elliot, Pospisil (Makela 70).
Subs: Gordon (g), Neilson, Camazzola, Cesnauskis.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk