Hearts 0 - 4 Rangers

The true significance of Rangers' 10th consecutive win in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League remains unclear but the ease with which Walter Smith's side negotiated a traditionally fraught journey along the M8 augurs well for the legitimacy of their title challenge.

Jean-Claude Darcheville enjoyed a profitable job-share against a brittle Hearts side, scoring twice before Walter Smith indulged the luxury of resting the Frenchman's piano-wire hamstrings. Nacho Novo duly converted a comprehensive win into a rout. It was a far cry from Rangers' previous visit to Tynecastle, the 4-2 defeat on September 15 that prompted the manager to dispense of any notion of unnecessary squad rotation.

Hearts have 57 full-time players but precious few of genuine quality. One such, Andrius Velicka, bid farewell to Tynecastle at half time after his £1m transfer to Viking Stavangar was completed.
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How Steven Frail could have done with one last shift from the departing centre forward last night. Hearts now have to reignite their mini-revival without their most potent asset. It is becoming a familiar tale of self-inflicted woe.

The intensity of the Old Firm rivalry this season may be reaching a thrilling crescendo but it has also taken an unsavoury turn. After Celtic fans' distasteful chants regarding the mental health of Paul Gascoigne at Love Street on Sunday, along with sectarian rubbish about never being mastered by no Orange b******', Rangers' away crowd offered a predictably idiotic riposte. They provided their own version in defiance, along with a rendition of the inflammatory Big Jock Knew'. The SPL, despite their early-season mock-bravery, have evidently turned a deaf ear. Mercifully, though, the football overshadowed the feeble at Tynecastle.

Rangers' rewards may have been plundered by the imposing Darcheville and nimble Novo but the roots of their success lay in a midfield odd couple.

A generation gap may exist between Christian Dailly and Steven Davis but in their first match together, the pair performed in perfect harmony to take instant control of the key area of the field.

As expected, Smith altered his strategy to away-day mode after the facile 4-2 win against Gretna at Ibrox. Of greater surprise was the inclusion of Dailly for his starting debut. The 34-year-old was signed predominantly as a versatile replacement for Ugo Ehiogu, who departed for Sheffield United in January, but his diligence was required in the holding midfield role ordinarily occupied by Brahim Hemdani. Dailly's fitness remains exemplary. He is an old-school professional right down to the tie-ups that prevent his socks from rolling down. It is a safe bet he has never worn any other style of boot than classic black.

Such reliability underpins Rangers' season. Dailly's responsibilities incorporated recycling possession to the more creative influences around him but also to provide a layer of security in front of Carlos Cuellar and David Weir. He was as alert to the sporadic forward spurts of Rueben Palazuelos - a midfielder whose tendency to daydream proved costly - as he was of Christian Nade's habit of retreating from the front line.

Dailly's metronomic presence accentuated a robust start from the visitors. He almost claimed an assist from the first sustained attack of a game spent largely in midfield attrition. Barry Ferguson's corner was headed back across goal by Dailly and instinctively nodded goalwards by Steven Naismith. Only the reactions of Steve Banks thwarted him.

On a night when the exertion of brawn took precedence over the engagement of brain, one notable exception helped enhance the spectacle. At every turn, Davis found himself in a catch-weight contest but just as he prospered against Gretna, the Northern Ireland midfielder possessed the pesky enthusiasm of a terrier. Sharp one-touch exchanges set a brisk pace for the rest of his team-mates to follow. His dogged perseverance proved decisive.

As Palazuelos dithered dangerously outside his penalty area, Davis snatched the ball almost playfully from between the Hearts man's fankled feet. He fed to Ferguson and the captain's flick sent Darcheville clear to drill a left-foot shot across Banks and into the net.

Hearts' contribution was marginal. In the absence of Velicka they offered only a cursory attacking threat. Their midfield was overworked and overpowered by Rangers while an inability to defend set-pieces caused self-inflicted harm to their prospects.

Having earlier relied on Banks' expertise, Hearts were unravelled before the interval. Ferguson's corner was headed back this time by Cuellar, shunted further infield by Naismith and prodded home by Darcheville. The Frenchman did not reappear after the interval but any relief among the tormented Hearts defence was momentary.

Novo's emergence brought mobility, unrivalled enthusiasm and downright cheek. The Spaniard wasted little time in breaching a flimsy resistance. Charlie Adam's low left-wing ball was inadequately defended and Novo pounced on the stray ball.

The best was saved for last. Another cross, this time from the the right, was impudently backheeled by Novo, who looked round in astonishment to see his effort evade Banks. He was later denied a hat-trick by the Hearts goalkeeper but by then the damage had already been done.

For Rangers, a clear statement of intent before the titanic Old Firm triple-bill. For Hearts, apathy is all that lingers this season.

Taken from the Herald