Plain sailing for Hearts but Rangers reach troubled water

For once, Hearts have been able to differentiate between their off-field woes and their on-field progress. Csaba Laszlo, the eighth and most convincing manager of the melancholy Vladimir Romanov era, must take the credit for instilling focus, pride and performance in a team perennially embroiled in melodrama.

Romanov, the Lithuania-based owner, has developed a nasty habit of usurping even a semblance of harmony around Tynecastle. Having watched his new man unite a fractious squad on the principles of respect and hard work, which in turn sent Hearts shooting into third place after four successive victories, Romanov tested this new-found harmony and contentment with a "blip" in processing the players' wages this weekend.

There was no such blip, glitch or hitch to Hearts' performance on Saturday. Indeed, the only blemish was a Christos Karipidis own goal that initiated a ham-fisted and futile comeback from Rangers. Laszlo's side were inspired on an icy afternoon, none more so than their colossal captain, Christophe Berra.

The Scotland squad player was a primary contributor to both Hearts goals, exploiting the visitors' inability to undertake the basic principles of set-piece defending, but his influence was more far reaching.

He was flawless in his more accustomed defensive duties. Berra restricted Boyd to a series of forlorn attempts to draw a foul by backing in to his marker and falling unconvincingly to the ground. Dougie McDonald, the astute arbiter in a traditionally meaty contest, eventually had enough and cautioned the striker for persistent fouling.

Berra was also equipped to deal with the waning pace and power of Jean-Claude Darcheville. In short, he neutered Rangers on his defensive beat and plagued them - Madjid Bougherra, in particularly - up front.

There were no shortage of titans for Hearts. Bruno Aguiar provided the viciously accurate deliveries that Berra found irresistible and the Rangers defence elusive. The Portuguese midfielder must have derived even greater satisfaction from pinching the plaudits from his more illustrious countryman, Pedro Mendes. Berra was the best of the brutish bunch with a true captain's performance. In contrast, the grouchy presence of Barry Ferguson only added to the conundrum facing Walter Smith.

Ferguson never got close to the action and has yet to establish the demarcation lines with Mendes, whose creative urges have also suffered since the main man returned from ankle surgery. Rangers lacked grit and guts without the presence of Kevin Thomson and Steven Davis, to long-term injury and recent family issues respectively.

Alarmingly, the manager attributed this defeat largely to his team's inability to "handle the pressure of the situation". It was a frank acknowledgement that his renovated side - who have now haemorrhaged 10 points away from home this season - are lacking a fundamental fortitude in their attempt to thwart Celtic from a fourth successive league title win.

Again, there was a randomly disjointed look to Rangers' line-up. Steven Whittaker again performed inadequately at left-back when, perhaps, even the luckless Steven Smith would be a more reliable option. Bougherra, impressive since joining from Charlton, was culpable for both goals after returning from injury and replacing Lee McCulloch, who excelled at centre-back against Aberdeen.

And then there is poor Lafferty. It is hard not to pity the youngster as he clomps awkwardly around the field like a frightened foal. Bad enough that his confidence is being shredded by playing out of position but his team-mates are now beginning to shoot him exasperated looks. He played up front for the final 10 minutes and looked transformed. It has become apparent that he either plays as a centre-forward or not at all. It is getting to the stage where he would rather sit out than watch his reputation wither away before an angry audience.

This was destined to be Hearts' day. They took the lead after 20 minutes, Berra benefiting from a fly push on Bougherra to head Aguiar's dangerous free kick goalward.

Allan McGregor was unable to catch, Adam unable to clear, leaving Marius Zaliukas with the simple task of budging the stray ball over the line.

They doubled their lead in jig-time and from identical circumstances. Again, Aguiar aimed for the back post, Berra banged the knock-down, and Laryea Kingston stooped to head home the scraps.

The Hearts supporters licked their lips in anticipation of another savaging, after last season's 4-2 win at Tynecastle, but Rangers redeemed themselves in bizarre circumstances. Karipidis and Boyd contested Adam's free-kick and with Jamie MacDonald, Hearts' stand-in goalkeeper, out of position and on bended knee, Karipidis carried the ball over the goal-line as it cannoned off the underside of the bar.

It was a performance worthy of fair day's pay. Csaba Laszlo, the eighth and most convincing manager of the melancholy Vladimir Romanov era, must take the credit for instilling focus, pride and performance in a team perennially embroiled in melodrama.

Taken from the Herald