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| <-Page | <-Team | Sat 19 Aug 2006 Rangers 2 Hearts 0 | Team-> | Page-> |
| <-Srce | <-Type | Herald ------ Report | Type-> | Srce-> |
| Valdas Ivanauskas | <-auth | Darryl Broadfoot | auth-> | Kenny Clark |
| Neilson Robbie | [K Boyd pen 47] ;[K Boyd 49] | |||
| 78 | of 078 | ----- | L SPL | A |
Rangers 2 - 0 HeartsDARRYL BROADFOOT at Ibrox August 21 2006 Kris Boyd provided a predictable cure for Rangers' attacking impotence. Yet the foreplay was a source of deeper satisfaction to Paul Le Guen and a smitten Ibrox crowd. There was an inevitability about the result, an ominous sign for a Hearts side rendered one-dimensional since the departure of Rudi Skacel and the short-term absence of Paul Hartley. When an indignant Boyd reminded his manager of last season's haul of 37 goals last midweek, the striker heaped upon himself the pressure and expectation to arrest a stuttering series of results. Le Guen obliged an opportunity and the 22-year-old delivered in inimitable fashion. Two goals was the sum of an afternoon's work for Boyd, to his manager's chagrin, but even in spite of the throwback poacher's uncultured game outside of the penalty box, Rangers are comforted by mesmerising creativity. So scintillating was Lee Martin's home debut, there is a worry the supporters could become too attached to the player sent up the road by Sir Alex Ferguson on an initial six-month loan from Manchester United. Martin, it is safe to assume, has a healthy conceit of himself. Refreshingly, though, in an era where image takes precedence over industry, the peroxide pipe-cleaner has the talent to back up his considerable self-confidence. A graduate of the Cristiano Ronaldo school of trickery, Martin achieved a notable scalp on Saturday. Robbie Neilson has earned a reputation as an unflappable full-back at Hearts and, most probably, is the imminent successor to Jackie McNamara as first-choice international right-back. He departed Ibrox a beaten and broken man. Prematurely at that. Neilson spent all day chasing Martin's shadow, falling victim to his parlour tricks and, worse still, contributing to his own downfall. He was uncharacteristically culpable for both of Hearts' concessions and rounded off a thoroughly abject afternoon with a red card in the last minute, borne out of uncontrollable frustration. If Martin can sustain such sparkling form, Neilson will at least derive comfort from the fact he won't be the last to be unravelled by the blond box-of-tricks who also possesses an awesome array of deliveries. Not to be outdone, Chris Burke returned to the starting line-up and brought a compelling balance. He, too, gave a vintage performance, although Burke's attention to detail - an unruly John Farnham feather cut circa 1986 - was slightly over the top. Having blitzed Hearts in a four-minute flurry at the start of the second half, the wingers took it in turns to outdo the other. As he surveyed such a sprightly scene, a creaky old Croat realised he had become the doyen of Le Guen's team. A quick glance at the squad details had Dado Prso feel like Daddy Prso. "I had a look at the dates of birth and saw 1985, 86, 87 and I'm there at 1974. I thought 'oh my'. Lionel [Letizi] and I are the old ones but I don't feel old," he said. "I still think I can contribute. I was maybe under a little bit of pressure because I did not have such a long holiday in the summer but I feel better now." After two draws against Dundee United and Dunfermline, Rangers were obliged not only to beat Hearts at Ibrox but do so with a performance to restore the optimism tempered by two laboured results. Le Guen made a subtle modification of his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and while some observers over-simplified it as a conventional 4-4-2, in truth it resembled a 4-2-4 for the majority of the game. Prso was utterly imperious as a support-act for Boyd, clocking up more miles than a London taxi in a shift that did not go unnoticed by Le Guen. In fact, in trying to educate Boyd in the art of great forward play, the manager need only show him a replay of the game. "I am happy with his two goals but he can do better," said Le Guen. "He must be available to his partners and be more aware." Le Guen, nevertheless, extolled the virtues of a genuine collective effort in striking a psychological blow against last season's runners-up. Phil Bardsley, the other United loan acquisition, was flawless at right back before succumbing to minor injury, Karl Svensson exerted greater control over his nerves and even Brahim Hemdani, that most monotonous of midfielders, even indulged in some atypical adventure. What of Hearts? Not a lot, frankly. Their entire game plan was based on exploiting a lack of height in Rangers' full-back areas, hence a brawny front three of Edgaras Jankauskas, Roman Bednar and Calum Elliot. Letizi's only save was a superficial one from a Bruno Aguiar free kick and Bednar's ankle injury effectively ruined Valdas Ivanauskas' hopes of completing an early Old Firm double. Jankauskas is an increasing liability; a pitiful shadow of a once-feared European front man. If Ivanauskas is dependent on him overturning a 2-1 deficit in the second leg of the Champions League qualifier against AEK in Athens, then Hearts had better prepare for the UEFA Cup. A gripping first half had a customary splurge of spurned chances by Rangers. Neilson, though, presented them with a penalty seconds after the restart when he clattered almost involuntarily into Prso inside the box. Boyd stroked the penalty past Craig Gordon and celebrated the vindication of his bold pre-match talk. His day would get even better. Neilson fouled Martin and from the winger's drilled free-kick, Boyd rose to bullet home an emphatic header. Then, the capitulation. Tortured by Martin for the umpteenth time, Neilson's tug at his short resulted in a second yellow card and an ironic handshake from his tormentor.  Taken from the Herald |
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| <-Page | <-Team | Sat 19 Aug 2006 Rangers 2 Hearts 0 | Team-> | Page-> |
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