Stevenson the hero as Hearts continue run

It was another second half performance from Hearts which earned them all three points from this fixture against Rangers.

For many the game against Walter Smith's men was an opportunity for Hearts to show if they can split the Old Firm and even possibly challenge for the title. The Jambos showed, that although they may not always put in the performance they have the fight to grind out a result and that's what happened at Tynecastle.

Jim Jefferies made three changes to the team that beat Kilmarnock mid week, Ian Black and David Obua dropped to the bench with Novikovas not in the side at all. Rudi Skacel, Stephen Elliott and Ryan Stevenson were all given places in the starting line-up,

The Jambos started the match positively, Ryan Stevenson came close with a shot just outside the box in the fourth minute but his effort went just over the bar.

Rangers however were dangerous on the attack; Marian Kello was called on to make two excellent saves in the 12th minute. The second was from a curling shot by Rangers youngster Jamie Ness which looked to be going into the top corner until Kello got his fingers to it and tipped it over.

The Glasgow side were starting to dominate the match. In the 20th minute Kello was called into action again. Zaliukus lost the ball in the middle of the park to Edu, he played it through to Lafferty who fired in a right foot effort but Kello was alert to hold the ball well.

Just a couple minutes later the Slovakian was again under pressure this time from a Steven Naismith effort which he again held well.

Hearts were struggling to threaten Allan McGregor's goal, Templeton was trying to create space down the left but the Rangers defence snuffed out any chances the Jambos were creating.

Allan McGregor had to be alert in the 43rd minute when a seemingly innocuous ball from Mrowiec almost beat him on the bounce. The Rangers keeper managed to get his fingertips to it and push it over the bar for a corner.

In the first ten minutes of the second half Hearts again soaked up the pressure from Rangers, though they were starting to push forward a bit more and Jefferies decided to bring on Gary Glen for David Templeton.

Lee Wallace was creating chances for Hearts, causing Rangers trouble down the left hand side and in the 63rd minute he crossed a brilliant ball in from the by-line but unfortunately for Hearts nobody was in the box to get on the end of it.

The game was more even in the second half with the Jambos pushing forward but they still hadn't tested McGregor in the second half.

In the 70th minute Hearts had a good chance to test the Rangers keeper, a ball in from the left fell to the back post but Jonsson snatched at the ball and it went wide of goal.

The Jambos were continuing to push forward and in the 75th minute they broke the deadlock. Lee Wallace got the ball out on the left after previous attacks had been cleared, he crossed it in to the feet of Stephen Elliott and his shot into the box went to the feet of Ryan Stevenson who poked it past McGregor to put Hearts 1-0 up.

As ever, when playing the Old Firm they don't give up easily and the Glasgow side continued pushing forward and causing Hearts problems though the defence seemed to be coping well with the pressure.

However in the 85th minute Rangers almost levelled the score. Ness played a ball in from the right and it landed at the feet of Jelavic, he unleashed a powerful shot which crashed of Kello's goal and back into play.

Although Rangers continued to try and push forward they were unable to level the scoring, all three points stayed at Tynecastle and the Jambos extended their unbeaten run in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to 11 matches.

Hearts: Kello; Jonsson, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Wallace; Elliott, Mrowiec, Palazuelos, Skacel (C.Thomson, 84), Templeton (Glen, 55); Stevenson (Black, 86). Subs not used: MacDonald, Barr, Suso, Obua.

Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, McCulloch, Bougherra, Ness (Weiss,79), Davis,Edu (Fleck, 75), Naismith, Whittaker, Bougherra, Lafferty (Jelavic, 68). Subs not used: Alexander, Foster, Beattie, Webster

Referee: Mike Tumilty

Top man: Marian Kello

Hearts World