Glasgow Frails to smile on Jambos

Hearts have suffered incessantly at the hands of referees this season but Mike McCurry, by not penalising Jose Goncalves for handball in the build-up to Ferguson's 51st-minute strike, unwittingly made a rod for his own back.

He doubtless felt compelled to ignore a clear handling offence seconds later by the Scotland captain, who seized on the leniency to twist his body in mid-air and dispatch an acrobatic effort beyond Steve Banks.

Until then, the Edinburgh side had stood their ground, matching their opponents stride for stride and cancelling out Ferguson's threat with some robust midfield play. Nonetheless, moving ahead was like a tonic on Rangers, who proceeded to dominate the second half with Jean-Claude Darcheville adding the decisive second goal.

Hearts ended the match ruing just one solitary missed chance, Andrius Velicka's miscued shot which glided wide of Allan McGregor's net with the score at 1-0. It was another moment which might have altered the game's complexion. "If it's fallen to anyone at the moment you'd want it to be Velicka," sighed Stephen Frail. "The way he's been playing recently and his work rate have been great. He also had a similar chance last week against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup which hit the post. These things make all the difference. He just needed that extra bit of composure in front of goal.

"Goals change games and you get a lift if it goes for you. Rangers got the opening goal and everything was going for them. If Velicka scores then it's a different story but in the event they scored the second and the game was all but over. We didn't get any luck and we're obviously disappointed with the outcome."

Elimination from two cup tournaments inside a week isn't something the caretaker manager will wish to dwell on. Even more so when he considers Hearts' upcoming league fixtures which will now define the remainder of their season. However, returning along the M8 last night, Frail was pondering the evening's outcome if Ferguson's opener had been discounted on the grounds of handling.

"It was definitely handball," he confirmed. "I don't think it's intentional but it changes the direction of the ball and allows it to bounce. He finished with his left foot, albeit he still had a lot to do. It was a great finish and it changed the course of the game."

What perhaps stood out most for the hardy Hearts supporters in a disappointing crowd of just under 32,000 was their side's lack of creativity. Larry Kingston's continuing participation in the African Nations Cup leaves Frail's side bereft of midfield guile, although Saulius Mikoliunas had the occasional first-half foray which might have amounted to more.

That and the unconvincing display of left-back Goncalves – perhaps the reinstatement of Lee Wallace is in order – will provide Frail with food for thought over what is an inactive weekend for Hearts due to Scottish Cup fifth-round fixtures.

During a nervous opening 20 minutes for the Tynecastle side, Steve Banks was required to save magnificently from Charlie Adam's volley, displaying the astuteness which attracted Walter Smith's interest earlier this month. Then came two penalty claims which became the talk of the half-time steamie.

First, Christian Nade evaded Carlos Cuellar and was dragged to the floor by the cumbersome Spaniard, denying the striker a chance to head for goal. The appeals from Hampden's east stand, where the Hearts support was housed, were vociferous and television replays confirmed an offence, however, it took place just outside the penalty box. Hearts were still entitled to a free-kick, however, McCurry promptly waved Nade to get up and ignored all claims, as he did ten minutes from the interval when Darcheville seemed to be sandwiched by Christos Karipidis and Robbie Neilson whilst pursuing a through ball.

Both incidents affirmed the referee's refusal to become embroiled in controversy. However, had he witnessed the blatantly violent mauling of Mikoliunas in between the two penalty incidents, he could not have ignored it. After playing a pass infield, the Lithuanian set off down the left touchline only to be grappled round the throat and felled by Steven Whittaker. As Mikoliunas lay on the sodden turf, his attacking instincts curtailed, he must have wondered how all four officials on duty managed to miss the incident.

Half-time arrived with Hearts looking composed. Velicka's looping header from Eggert Jonsson's cross, which rebounded off the crossbar, was the closest either team had come, but shortly after the restart their CIS Cup final hopes took a definitive downturn. Charlie Adam's free-kick was handled by Goncalves in the area but, after the Portuguese escaped punishment, Frail must have cursed his defenders' inability to clear the ball. Chris Burke returned it and Ferguson attempted to control it with his thigh, only for it to jump up and hit his hand. He didn't wait to see if he has been penalised, however, and hooked a left-footed finish into the net.

Rangers' place in the final was confirmed when Burke's low cross was converted by Darcheville at the back post.

"I'm delighted for everyone," said Smith. "I felt it was going to be an awkward game. Hearts are a big, physical side and the conditions were not conducive to good passing.

"However, I felt we handled all of that very well and managed to keep possession and pass the ball all night very well indeed. It was a great goal from Barry Fer
guson to get us going. He took it well with his back to goal and made a great finish. We had a few things after that but we didn't make the most of them. However, Jean-Claude managed to get the goal to clinch it for us. Throughout the night we had some good moves that didn't come to fruition but we are just delighted to be in the final."

One sour note for Smith is that Charlie Adam is now out of the showpiece final against either Dundee United or Aberdeen. The midfielder was cautioned for a two-footed tackle on Robbie Neilson having been booked against East Fife earlier in the tournament.

"I don't know why the referee booked him for that. It was an innocuous challenge," said Smith. "I felt he went for the ball very fairly at a time when he could have gone in to injure Robbie Neilson. So I have no idea why that was a booking."

It seemed McCurry's decisions perplexed one and all.

Taken from the Scotsman