Party goes on despite defeat at hands of Gers

Rangers 2
Boyd, 37, 74

Hearts 0
<p>How big a blow would it be to Hearts if Rudi Skacel left?</p> <h5>Tel:</h5><p>0131 620 8651</p> <h5>Text:</h5><p>Send the word FINAL then your message to 07736 101010</p> <h5>Email:</h5><p><a href="mailto:final@edinburghnews.com">final@edinburghnews.com</a></p>

How big a blow would it be to Hearts if Rudi Skacel left?
Tel:

0131 620 8651
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Send the word FINAL then your message to 07736 101010
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final@edinburghnews.com

THE disconcertment at Rudi Skacel's emergence with the captain's armband around his bicep passed almost unnoticed by the boisterous visiting support at Ibrox yesterday. They were, after all, "only here for the party".

As the media digested Valdas Ivanauskas' decision to name the Czech skipper for the day in what was almost certainly his last league game for the club, it appeared those who have grown to adore him cared not a jot.

They weren't interested in the team, who was playing, who was rested, what the score would be. The only purpose of the sojourn to Glasgow for the Hearts support was unadulterated celebration in recognition of the fact that the Old Firm had just been split, and it was their club holding the axe. The Champions League qualifying spot that comes with a second-place finish in the SPL has only supplemented the delight they have basked in. Skacel's goal-scoring and goal-providing contributions have often been catalysts in pivotal victories along the way this season, so perhaps the reward of leading the side out was justified.

Still, camaraderie aside, Skacel should view himself fortunate to have been permitted the experience as he eyes the exit door at Tynecastle. A document drawn up last summer stating that Skacel would become a Hearts player upon the agreement of a transfer fee was signed by Hearts, Marseille and Skacel himself.

That he is now on the payroll at Tynecastle and as such is an official employee of the club is not in doubt, but despite his public protestations it is his contentment which is questionable. The player has become disillusioned with events within the club and it is understood that were he to be retained by Hearts for next season it would be against his will.

In fairness, Vladimir Romanov, the majority shareholder, is not of a mind to keep unhappy players, an approach for which he is due much credit. Therefore Skacel likely played his last match at Tynecastle against Aberdeen last week, yesterday was probably his final league outing, and the ultimate last bow can be expected at Hampden.

His season has been nothing short of phenomenal, and it can only be hoped that he realises the privilege which was thrust on him in deputising for Steven Pressley.

"Maybe I am very old," he joked. "I think I was the second oldest on the pitch for us so I am one of the more experienced players. I think it was a good match for everybody, including the fans. Both sides had many chances and it would have been good to watch.

"We have a good squad and everyone deserved to play. We have taken second place and with so many players it is important that they try to play some games."

Skacel then attempted to play some games of his own when pressed to speak on his Hearts future. "This question is difficult for me. I have signed some options. I am happy in Edinburgh and I am happy with this team, it is a fantastic dressing room.

"Players like 'Elvis' Pressley, Paul Hartley, Jamie McAllister and my Greek brother Takis Fyssas make me happy and we have amazing supporters. But we will see. I would like to play in the Premiership one day, it is the best league of all. Maybe that will happen this year, next year or after five years. Maybe it is only a dream."

Hearts supporters certainly feel something surreal about their club's success this season, and it was that which prompted their uproarious afternoon. Skacel saw an early shot drift wide before thumping a left-footed drive at Ronald Waterreus which the Dutchman punched to safety.

The early pressure was only cultivating the carnival atmosphere so evident in what had been deemed the "Champions League section", as dingys, blow-up balls and rubber rings were all tossed around with great hilarity. If you are a purveyor of beach accessories in Edinburgh right now, it's a safe bet that you're doing a roaring trade.

For Rangers fans the mood was considerably more sombre. For a start, it was impossible to believe that 49,792 people were inside the stadium at any point given the wide gaps around all four stands. But more pertinently it was Alex McLeish's last match as manager.

Paul le Guen fronted up at Murray Park for his Rangers initiation this morning already a favourite with the support and with more money to spend than Chris Evans on a drinking spree. But his outgoing predecessor proved that his sense of humour is still in order despite four and a half years in the manager's chair at Ibrox.

The matchday programme contained a feature on McLeish's all-time favourite XI, which included footballing luminaries like Michel Platini, Carlos Alberto and Gerd Muller. There was a conspicuous name amongst the substitutes however, for it is difficult to recall anyone by the name of Namouchi attaining world-superstar status in the game.

Hearts could have moved in front through Michal Pospisil but his left-footed shot pulled wide after Skacel had capitalised on a midfield slip by Gavin Rae. With some members of the visiting section being ridiculously threatened with ejection for conducting a Konga up and down the stairs, their side then fell behind.

Kris Boyd nodded in Peter Lovenkrands' corner at the back post after losing his marker, Martin Petras. The Hearts fans weren't being deterred, though, and it could be argued that they celebrated Boyd's strike more passionately than those in blue.

Christophe Berra was delivering an inspired performance as one of nine changes to the Hearts team from Wednesday night, and Skacel missed his side's best opportunity from Pospisil's knockdown on the hour, driving his right-footed shot against the legs of Waterreus.

The intent of the home side eventually became too much to repel any longer and Boyd added his second on 74 minutes, again freeing himself easily from the clutches of Petras to calmly stroke Gavin Rae's accurate cross past the despairing Steve Banks.

By that time Julien Brellier had evinced his displeasure with his recent lack of first-team exposure by storming up the tunnel after being replaced by Lee Johnson. But nothing was going to silence the Hearts fans. The season may be over, but with a Scottish Cup final and Champions League qualifiers imminent, you sense that the excitement is just beginning.
The verdict of Hearts fans Denise Wilson, Richard Lynch, and Ronnie Hunter

Denise Wilson, Westfield: "I thought it was quite a solid performance from Hearts considering the team that we fielded for this game.

"We started the match pretty well and we had a couple of decent opportunities early on to get the opening goal but we didn't take them and Rangers started to get back into the game a bit more. I was quite disappointed with the goal that we gave away because we have defended set pieces reasonably well this season but we didn't really deal with the ball into the box at all and that is a wee bit worrying.

"We will need to defend that kind of ball much better next week because I am sure that set-pieces will be something that Gretna will be looking to exploit against us. Obviously, we will be back to our strongest possible XI next week and, to be honest, I'd be surprised if more than 2 or 3 of the team who started today are in the side next week. Most of the Hearts team is picking itself at the moment and the hardest decision is probably going to be choosing between Julien Brellier and Bruno Aiguar to partner Paul Hartley in central midfield. I would probably prefer if we played Brellier because, although Aiguar is a good player, I think Julien Brellier has more of a physical presence about him and that he is a bit more effective at protecting the back four.

"Obviously, we are strong favourites for next week but we cannot afford to be too cocky and I think that Brellier is a safer choice than Aiguar for a game of this importance."

Richard Lynch, Musselburgh: "It was a really good day to be a Hearts fan and the only thing that would have made it better is if we'd somehow managed to take something from the game. Without a doubt, that is the best day out I've ever had out at Ibrox.

"The atmosphere amongst the Hearts fans was electric and I've never laughed so much during a game before. We made a decent enough start and it would have been amazing if Rudi had scored with his chance in the first minute because that really would have added to the party atmosphere. However, I think that as the match went on, our performance missed its usual zip and I think that motivation was maybe a problem for some of the players.

"Obviously, the last few weeks has been so tense but all the pressure was off for this game and that probably reflected with the performance. We were a bit slack at times and I don't think we got anywhere near our best. It was a bit of an empty fixture and the players never really got the game going at the tempo we have been used to this season.

"Of course, our objective for the season as far as the league is concerned has been achieved now and we all had one eye on the cup final next week so maybe a more lax Hearts performance is understandable. It has been a great season for Jambos and I think that we owe a lot to Romanov. I've not always felt confident that he knew what he was doing but it has worked out well for him and you always have to give credit to Valdas for what we've done because I'm not sure if all of this would have happened if Rix had been the manager."

Ronnie Hunter, Broxburn: "I was quite pleased with the overall performance of the team and you have to be happy enough when you've fielded what is basically a reserve team at Ibrox and certainly not been disgraced.

"I felt we looked quite dangerous on the counter attack and our pace caused Rangers a few problems. In fact, I felt that we were definitely still in the game right up to the point that they got the second goal which killed us off. However, the performance was more what we were looking for than the result because a few of the players will be hoping that they've done enough to make the squad for next week's game.

"I thought that Mirsad Beslija looked much sharper than when I have seen him previously and if he can get properly fit over the summer, he could be a useful addition to the squad for next season.

"However, the man of the match was definitely Christophe Berra. Christophe had a great match and he must have given himself every chance of not just making the squad for the final but actually starting the match. It was a very assured performance from a player who just seems to be getting better with every match. He has been very patient and waited for his chance and he might just get it now with the situation with Andy Webster in the balance.

"I'm looking forward to the cup final now and if we can win it, that would just be the perfect way to round off what has been a very good season as far as Hearts are concerned."
Should Hearts play their Champions League ties at Tynecastle or Murrayfield?

"Nothing compares to a big European night at Tynecastle"
Alex Sawyer, Corstorphine

Owen Roxburgh, Penicuik: "I think we should definitely try to play the games at Tynecastle if possible. Other than the Braga match, I don't think that atmosphere at Murrayfield was very good at all and I'd like to see full houses at all of our Champions League games which wouldn't be possible at Murrayfield unless we drew a massive club."

Gary McCarthy, Leith: "I'd like to see us play at Murrayfield but purely for financial reasons. Imagine how much money we could make with 40,000 or more going along to see some of the big teams if we got the luck of the draw. The Champions League is worth millions but we could make even more if we play at Murrayfield which will enable us to strengthen our squad further and make sure we're back next year."

Stevie Moyes, Westfield: "I'd definitely like to see the games played at Tynecastle if possible. If UEFA are prepared to give us the special dispensation, then let's go for it. It would be madness to give up home advantage. We might make more money in qualifiers at Murrayfield but losing home advantage could be the difference between making it to the group stages or not. Tynecastle means that much to us."

Neil Rowe, Dalry: "It has to be Tynecastle for me. I think that our results this season shows the size of the advantage we get from playing at Tynecastle and as Arsenal have proved, some European sides don't feel comfortable playing on a wee tight pitch with the crowd at their back. That's something in our favour and we should try to exploit it because we will need a lot of things going in our favour against some very tough opposition."

Craig Jarrett, Roseburn: "I think we should play at Tynecastle. It's our home ground and it should be our first choice venue. We'd probably get a bigger crowd at Murrayfield but a lot of the extra income would be lost in paying a rental fee to the SRU anyway. I am pleased we have asked UEFA for dispensation because at least Romanov is showing more initiative than Robinson ever did."

Alex Sawyer, Corstorphine: "I'd definitely like to see us play at Tynecastle in the Champions League. The atmosphere was okay at Murrayfield but we all know that nothing compares to the atmosphere that is generated on a big European night at Tynecastle. The Bayern Munich match was probably one of the best experiences I've ever had but this could be 100 times bigger if we make the group stages."

Ross Steele, Tollcross: "I think we should opt to play our games at Murrayfield because I think we should be looking to maximise the Champions League income as much as we possibly can and, obviously, Murrayfield is going to be more of a money-spinner than Tynecastle. Imagine how great it would be to watch us playing against one of the top clubs in world football surrounded by 67,000 Jambos. That would be one of the best nights in our history."
Your comments

"A decent enough performance from the Hearts reserves" Stuart Osborne, Sighthill

George Newell, Newington: "I felt that we played well enough within ourselves and we created a couple of decent chances - especially in the first half. We lost a couple of bad goals but the result didn't bother me in the slightest."

David Mackie, Liberton: "It was a good opportunity for us to give a few of the fringe players a run out and rest our key players for next week. I thought that they did well with Lee Wallace and Mirsad Beslija particularly impressive."

Andrew Pickering, Corstorphine: "I didn't think there was much of a gulf in class between the teams which is to our credit. I thought that Pospisil looked very dangerous on the counter attack and he could have had a couple of goals."

Tony McPhee, Corstorphine: "The result didn't really matter but it would have been excellent to have signed off in a wee bit of style and showing Rangers that the Romanov revolution is only just beginning."

Gordon Moodie, Leith: "It was all a bit surreal and at times it felt like a pre-season game because the pressure was off. The atmosphere was tremendous and I'm hoping that we'll have another party at Hampden next week."

Stuart Osborne, Sighthill: "A decent enough performance from the Hearts reserves. I thought that Mirsad Beslija had a good game. He looks to be very quick and certainly isn't afraid to run at defenders. He could be a big player for us next season."

Robert Jones, Longstone: "We passed the ball about very well at times and we caused Rangers a few problems. Given that we made nine changes to the starting XI, I think it was a good display and we showed how much depth we have in the squad."

Bryan Taylor, Riccarton: "It was very generous of Rangers to provide us with the ideal warm-up before the Cup final. I hope we haven't seen the last of Julien Brellier in a Hearts jersey because he has been a very important part of our success story this season."

David Winter, Gorgie: "This was just a meaningless game that we had to get out of the way before the big game next week. We came through it unscathed and I think it was important that the likes of Hartley and Pressley got a rest. Bring on Gretna!"

Graham Robinson, Haymarket: "I don't think I've ever been less bothered about losing a game before. We are second in the league and Rangers are third. We are in the Champions League and they aren't and that is all that is important."

Ryan Cameron, Penicuik: "To be honest, we didn't break sweat in this game but, of course, we didn't have to. Thank you Mr Romanov for what has been a wonderful season."

Alan Howard, Tollcross: "It's a slightly disappointing way to wrap up our league campaign but we have a much more important game ahead next week so you can understand the team selection."

Taken from the Scotsman