Rangers 4 Hearts 0

May 8 2011 Mark Guidi, Sunday Mail

THERE might be a split in the boardroom but the Rangers dressingroom is clearly pulling in one direction as they bid to make it Three-in-a-Row.

On the day Craig Whyte took his place at Ibrox as owner, he sat next to two of the men - Martin Bain and John McClelland - who have questioned whether he can provide the necessary funding to take Gers forward.

But there was unity on the pitch as Walter Smith's men romped to the win that took them four points clear at the top.

Rangers didn't look back after Nikica Jelavic had fired them ahead in 23 minutes.

And the game was finished by half-time thanks to strikes from Kyle Lafferty and Steve Davis.

Hearts went down to 10 men after 62 minutes when Eggert Jonsson landed a straight red for a tackle on Jelavic.

And their misery was then complete when Ryan Stevenson diverted an El Hadji Diouf effort into his own net.

Gers deserved their comfortable victory with Davis pulling the strings in midfield and Jelavic providing a cutting edge.

Yet, despite missing several key players for a variety of reasons, the Jambos made a game of it in the early stages.

Winger David Templeton was in fine form down the left and ripped Steven Whittaker apart.

David Obua found him with a 50-yard diagonal ball that took Whittaker out of the game.

Templeton then beat Madjid Bougherra before driving a shot across Allan McGregor that Stevenson just failed to connect with at the back post.

Jamie MacDonald made his first save in 18 minutes when he tipped Stevie Naismith's 25yarder over.

But the Jambos keeper was at fault five minutes later when Gers took the lead. Davis fizzed a cross into the box and Jelavic stretched his leg to get a fine first touch in.

The angle was acute but he smashed in a shot that was too hot to handle for MacDonald.

It was poor goalkeeping and the Tynecastle No.1 should have kept the strike out.

That settled the nerves of a crowd that had created an electric atmosphere inside the stadium.

And it was a blow to the Hearts players after their promising start to the game.

Ryan McGowan and Ian Black worked hard in the middle of the park for the Jambos but there wasn't enough support for lone striker Stevenson.

Jim Jefferies' side came close to a leveller in 39 minutes when McGregor made a brilliant save to deny Black.

And it proved to be a turning point as Gers raced up the park to double their lead. Davis and Whittaker combined on the counter-attack and Naismith failed to convert an excellent low cross from the right.

The ball broke to Gregg Wylde at the back post and his drilled ball back into the mix broke nicely off a defender for Lafferty.

The striker kept his cool to ram into the net with a good finish.

However, Hearts were aggrieved as Naismith appeared to be offside in the build up to the goal.

Rangers then made it 3-0 just a minute before the break. Wylde sent over an inviting cross and Davis bulleted a header past MacDonald from seven yards.

Hearts suffered more misery after the interval when Jonsson was sent off for a bad foul on danger man Jelavic.

There would have been few complaints had ref Iain Brines opted for just a yellow card but he thought it merited a red.

That was the last thing Hearts needed as moments earlier they had lost star man Templeton to a hamstring injury.

The youngster was their only threat and Jefferies would have been disappointed Hearts failed to cause more problems.

Naismith crashed a shot off the post as the Ibrox side pushed for another goal against 10 men.

The fourth arrived six minutes from time when Stevenson deflected the ball into his own net after Diouf had threatened.

Rangers are now two wins away from the title and will be hoping Hearts can do them a favour against Celtic in midweek.

But the Jambos will be without several key players again against the Hoops.

Jefferies has been forced to leave out Marius Zaliukas and Marian Kello after interference from owner Vladimir Romanov.

It's a desperate situation for Jeff and it can't be helping the dressingroom.

Smith, who welcomed back key midfielder Lee McCulloch from injury yesterday, has no such problems.

Celtic may well win their last three games but on this evidence Gers will beat Dundee United and Killie to keep their crown.

Man of the match

Nikica Jelavic

The Croatian scored the opener and was a major player throughout.

He is £4million of quality. Just edged Davis for the gong.

Taken from the Daily Record