A BIG HAND FOR BIG ECK

RANGERS 2

HEARTS 0

Jambos do Alex a farewell favour by resting 9 stars

Ace Boyd makes sure he gets happy ending with double

Fans give boss ovation to let him leave Ibrox in style

IN the more salubrious avenues of Edinburgh's Morningside it's called taking the Michael. In Glasgow's more gritty Govan area it is known as taking the p***

No matter the words you might choose to describe the fact that Hearts made nine changes for yesterday's match at Ibrox, it was clear Vladimir Romanov's mob were having a laugh.

Yes, they have a Tennent's Scottish Cup Final against Gretna looming as large as Arthur's Seat - but come on.

Nine changes from the team which on Wednesday night clinched second spot in the SPL and also a place in the qualifiers for the Champions League?

This could b e seen as a one-fingered gesture to Rangers, who were left with nothing at stake in their final game of the season.

In fact, the only matter of any interest for their fans was whether or not to afford Alex McLeish a decent farewell. He broke new ground for his club and Scottish football by leading Rangers into the last 16 of the Champions League but...

McLeish also collected seven trophies in his four and a half years as manager at Ibrox but...

He didn't have a barrow-load of cash with which to attract top-class players but...

The fact is McLeish managed to split the support but at the end of yesterday's match, which Rangers won thanks to a Kris Boyd double, McLeish was allowed to finish with applause ringing round the stadium as the message 'Thanks for the memories, Alex - good luck' flashed up on the giant screens.

Rain was tumbling down but he didn't seek shelter and stood at the edge of the technical area. The one thing he never does is hide and on the final whistle he and his assistants Andy Watson and Jan Wouters joined the players in the centre circle and the fans responded.

McLeish did appear a bit reluctant but he needn't have worried. He was given a standing ovation and there was no disguising how he felt. It was etched on his face and he bit down on his bottom lip as he disappeared up the Ibrox tunnel for the last time.

Even those who insisted he should have chosen players more wisely would have had lumps in their throats but they can't forget Rangers have finished without a trophy, without a place in the top two or even getting to a cup final for the first time in 20 years.

They'll say that had the manger been a little more tactically astute then Hearts wouldn't have enjoyed the luxury of resting almost an entire team yesterday.

Only Rudi Skacel, who wore the captain's armband, and Bruno Aguiar survived from the victory over Aberdeen last midweek and although Valdas Ivanauskas could argue that players such as Julien Brellier, Michal Pospisil and Calum Elliot are hardly nonentities this was most definitely a second-choice side.

Even first-choice referee Kenny Clark failed to show although word had it he had a calf injury and Ian Brines was asked to take control.

The match had become a matter of pride for McLeish and Rangers, who had a chance to take the lead after only nine minutes when Nerijus Barassa headed across his own goal to Dado Prso operating wide left of midfield.

However, he knocked the chance wide and then, only seconds later, Skacel was through at the other end but Ronald Waterreus didn't even have to do the goalkeeper's shuffle to punch clear.

Prso and Barassa clashed wide on Hearts' right after the Lithuanian had gone in heavily and Brines had to speak to both players, perhaps reminding them there was little point in anyone seeing red on this final and meaningless match.

Meaningless? If so, someone forgot to tell Gavin Rae, who beat two men before sticking a sweet pass left to Peter Lovenkrands, playing through the middle with Kris Boyd.

The Dane veered further left then sent a low pass across the face of Steven Banks' goal and he was pleased to see Boyd, coming in like a train, miss his connection and then Rae just fail to apply the finish.

Hearts, though, were competing extremely well despite the changes and Elliot wriggled around Steven Smith in 20 minutes before sending in a cross for Pospisil who directed a downward header towards goal.

Waterreus flew to his right to knock the ball away when it looked as if Hearts were ab out to go ahead.

Boyd was booked for leaning into Berra but this match was now being played at breakneck speed and the fans, who couldn't have expected this level of commitment in a game of no real importance.

Yet Barassa, who downed Lovenkrands, became the third player booked and then Lee Wallace brought down Sotirios Kyrgiakos near the corner flag on Hearts' left.

Lovenkrands took the free-kick but Prso was only an inch away from getting his head to the ball and then, in 36 minutes, the Croat ran on to Chris Burke's pass and fired in a low delivery which Boyd tried to turn in.

Banks got behind the effort and conceded a corner on the left which was taken by Lovenkrands.

Boyd got away from his markers and headed the ball through a mass of players for his 19th Rangers goal which took him one in front of Lovenkrands but, of course, Boyd also has 17 Kilmarnock goals to his credit this season.

Skacel was booked for a foul on Burke and just before the break Boyd forced a great save from Banks who would have been relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

Three minutes into the second half Smith was taken off and Alex Rae took over at right back and even before he had settled Beslija forced Waterreus to slap a shot for a corner which was wasted and that was typical of the play.

It was scrappy and littered with clumsy challenges and fouls but Hearts fans continued to enjoy themselves in their little part of the stadium which they dubbed Champions League corner.

They'd have been even happier had Skacel scored when allowed to turn inside the six-yard box only to hit the ball off Waterreus' leg and within minutes Lovenkrands hit the side netting from 12 yards.

Hearts took off Brellier, sent on Lee Johnston and started to create more chances with Aguiar and then Pospisil thumping in shots in rapid succession. These attempts were followed up by an Elliot header but Hearts were caught short at the back in 73 minutes when Boyd scored another.

Gavin Rae worked his way down the right and rolled the ball in front of his striker, who had a simple task to take his tally for Rangers to 20.

A couple of minutes later Hearts changed again, taking off Pospisil whose place was taken by Juho Makela but it was over.

McLeish knew that and that's why he was able to take Waterreus off and let young Lee Robinson get a taste of life at the sharp end.

When everything has been taken into consideration it would be churlish to say McLeish failed to make his mark at Ibrox and he deserved the final applause.

He appreciated it and if his programme notes can be used as a measure we know he hasn't lost his sense of humour.

Before leaving he named his best world 11: Peter Schmeichel in goal, a back four of Carlos Alberto, Ruud Krol, Franz Beckenbauer and Paolo Maldini. He chose Ronaldinho, Pele, Michel Platini and Diego Maradona as his middle four, with Marco van Basten and Gerd Muller up front proving he can select a team.

However, listed among his substitutes of Canizares, Baresi and Gullit was Hamed Namouchi.

Nice one, Eck. Enjoy the break and hopefully we'll see you in the dugout again, sooner rather than later.

Taken from the Daily Record