Rangers' Nikica Jelavic leads the rout as depleted Hearts crumble

Scottish Premier League
Rangers 4

Jelavic 23,
Lafferty 40,
Davis 44,
Stevenson 84

Hearts 0

Ewan Murray at Ibrox
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 7 May 2011 16.15 BST

Only time will tell whether the eventual completion of Craig Whyte's takeover of Rangers on Friday night will represent good news for those in the blue half of Glasgow. What can be said with authority is that today was a day of Rangers celebration.

Walter Smith could hardly have hand-picked better opponents as Rangers cantered to within two games of a third title in succession. Hearts arrived at Ibrox having won once in nine outings and were seriously depleted, but this was short, sharp stuff.

With 45 minutes played and in front of Whyte, it had become a question of how many Rangers would score. Rangers added one to the three goals claimed before the break, Hearts playing the closing 28 minutes with 10 men after Eggert Jonsson's dismissal.

There was no visible hailing of the Whyte era. Instead, the Rangers support have their focus firmly fixed towards on-field matters. Neil Lennon takes Celtic to Kilmarnock tomorrow in looking to cut a four-point deficit at the top of the table.

Anyone looking on from Celtic Park could not reasonably accuse Hearts of lacking commitment. Rather, the Edinburgh team's cause was crucially undermined before a ball was kicked. A glance at the Hearts team would show five players out of their natural positions. Three centre-backs and a left-back were the most significant absentees.

Interference from the Hearts owner, Vladimir Romanov, rather than the decisions of the manager, Jim Jefferies, counted. A furious Jefferies was forced to inform Marian Kello, the first-choice goalkeeper and arguably their best performer of the season, and his captain, Marius Zaliukas, that they would not be involved against Rangers.

That message was relayed on this morning before the team coach departed for Ibrox, after instruction arrived from Romanov in Lithuania. No reasoning was given to either player; Kello has been at odds with Romanov recently while Zaliukas was heavily criticised by the owner after a 4-0 loss to Celtic in January. Romanov is due in Edinburgh next week to sign off the latest accounts. A meeting with Jefferies during that trip will be crucial; the manager is known to be frustrated at meddling from above.

Kello's deputy, Jamie MacDonald, seemed at fault for three of the goals. Albeit the visiting defence were lax in allowing Nikica Jelavic to evade their weak offside trap for the first, the Croatian's angled shot should not really have squirmed through the keeper.

The defensive inadequacy was again apparent as Rangers doubled their lead. Steven Whittaker's cross was allowed to break back to Kyle Lafferty, who stroked home. By half-time, Steven Davis had met a deflected Gregg Wylde cross to beat the static MacDonald with a close-range header.

The second-half regressed into non-event territory before Jonsson lunged into Jelavic. The referee, Iain Brines, will stand by his decision, although Hearts are legitimately able to ask why leniency was shown towards Rangers' David Weir and Lafferty earlier in the game.

Steven Naismith hit a post as Rangers pressed for a fourth. It arrived as MacDonald spilled Lafferty's effort, Ryan Stevenson subsequently knocking the ball past his own goalkeeper. The last home match of Smith's two spells in charge comes against Dundee United on Tuesday night. It is hardly lacking in meaning.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer