Player ratings: Hearts v Rangers

Oct 4 2010

HEARTS

Marian Kello 6

Two wonder saves but suspect at the equaliser.

Craig Thomson 6

Busy shift down the right flank. Good energy.

Darren Barr 6

Sloppy distribution but some sound defending.

Ismael Bouzid 8

Won every header and tackle and a hand in opener.

Adrian Mrowiec 5

Plugged gaps at back but beaten too easily at winner.

David Obua 5

Struggled at left-back. Positionally challenged.

Eggert Jonsson 6

Couldn't quite catch the pace of a hectic midfield.

Ian Black 7

Kept his passing crisp, simple and tidy.

Rudi Skacel 6

Ring rusty but scored with his first touch.

Kevin Kyle 8

A handful. Rangers couldn't cope with him in the air.

Calum Elliot 6

A willing worker but never looked like scoring.

Subs: Jason Thomson - on to steady defence, 3. Ryan Stevenson - little time to shine, 2. Ruben Palazuelos - forced McGregor into fine save, 4.

RANGERS

Allan McGregor 6

Deceived by Skacel's fresh-air swipe at goal. Fine save late on from Palazuelos.

Steven Whittaker 6

Not as effective as usual going forward.

Madjid Bougherra 6

Struggled against Kyle but improved as game went on.

Davie Weir 7

Another 90-minute stroll, mopping up Kyle's flick-ons.

Sasa Papac 7

Fine game almost capped by volley off the post.

Steve Davis 9

Clever range of passing in a stylish performance.

Steven Naismith 8

Third terrific performance in the space of a week capped with a sublime winning goal.

Maurice Edu 6

High on energy but lacking in quality at times.

Vladimir Weiss 6

A menace on the flanks but lacked end product.

Kenny Miller 6

Dipped below his blistering early-season form.

Nikica Jelavic 7

Likes a battle but also clever on the ball.

MEN WHO MATTER

JIM JEFFERIES

Latest Spl boss to dust down Walter Smith's five-man defence and it was working like a charm until Lafferty got Rangers level. Can be delighted with his team's overall performance despite this late loss. 7

WALTER SMITH

Says he's stepping down at the end of the season but this is beginning to look like a ludicrously hasty decision. His joy at Naismith's winner shows he's enjoying the job as much as ever. 8

VERDICT

This was a stonker of a football match from start to finish. Both teams deserve enormous credit for the way they went about it at Tynecastle. Hearts were excellent. But Rangers were better. As the song says, that's why they're champions.

MAN IN BLACK

Craig Thomson seemed to be in a personal spat with Naismith which clouded decision-making.

Taken from the Daily Record