Fans walk out as four-goal Rangers humiliate Hearts

The home team's fans headed for the exits in their droves long before the end, as they could take no more of a desperate performance that would not allow Frail the slightest cause to offer any positive aspects. He was, instead, resigned to the unavoidable truth that his players had been a serious let-down, barely managing to register a shot on goal.

"We were turned over in as much a 4-0 victory as you'll see," he said. "In fact, it could have been more. I didn't see it coming, because there had been progress of late and, since I was appointed caretaker manager, I have had nothing but support and commitment from them.

"I'm not saying they didn't work hard or lacked commitment, but they just didn't get near the game. After losing the first goal, they seemed to lose it completely. It didn't help to lose the second goal just before half-time, but I said to them during the break that I wanted to see them get closer to people, but they never did.

"It's been a tough season, but things were slowly getting better and we had played well in recent matches. But tonight was nothing to do with playing an Old Firm team. With that level of performance, any opponents would have given us problems.

"We are missing big players like Laryea Kingston, Andy Driver and Michael Stewart, but I don't see that as an excuse."

Asked if Andrius Velicka, the Norway-bound top scorer who took his farewell on the pitch at half-time, would have made any difference, Frail replied: "Zero. We didn't create any chances for any striker to take advantage of."

Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager, was present at Tynecastle but if he made the trip to Edinburgh cast an eye over a Hearts player it is unlikely he will pursue his interest. George Burley, the former Hearts manager, was also in attendance in his new role as Scotland manager and he will have learned little that he did not know already.

The victory saw Rangers maintain their four-point lead over Celtic in the Premier League and, with the champions beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1, they are now level on goal difference. Walter Smith, the Ibrox manager, was more concerned with the impressive performance of his team than figures.

"When we lost 4-2 here in September, it was our worst performance of the season," said the Rangers manager. "Tonight, it was one of our best.

"We played well from the start of the game. We had to nullify Hearts and did that and went on to play very well going forward, made chances and took them."

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Taken from the Scotsman