Hearts 0 Rangers 2

By Ewing Grahame, Tynecastle

Tynecastle is, traditionally, the most difficult venue for aspiring champions. Hearts had won their four previous home games and had hoped to move into third position (at least temporarily) with a victory here.

Fat chance. Since losing at Parkhead in February, Rangers have won 13 league matches in a row away from home. Their six victories this season have come without conceding a goal and this success stretched their lead over second-placed Motherwell to nine points.

"You've got to show a level of consistency away from home in order to win titles," said Rangers manager Ally McCoist. "I don't want to tempt fate by going on about it but we worked our socks off today.

"Hearts make you earn it. We rode our luck a couple of times when our goalkeeper made some very good saves but we created excellent chances ourselves."

The early tempo was hectic, with commitment rather than composure the order of the day. Steven Whittaker was cautioned for a rash challenge on David Templeton in the 10th minute, an incident which perfectly encapsulated the opening exchanges.

Indeed, neither goalkeeper had been called upon to make a save when, out of nothing, the visitors opened the scoring.

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio will wonder why Whittaker was able to run 40 yards with the ball without being closed down or brought down but the full-back was allowed to continue unchallenged until he reached the edge of the penalty area.

He then picked out the run of Steven Naismith, who took the pass in his stride to beat Marian Kello with a low right-footed drive from 15 yards.

It was Naismith's ninth league goal of the season, confirming his position as the top scorer in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Adrian Mrowiec was harshly shown a yellow card for a perfectly legitimate challenge on Maurice Edu, a decision which further fuelled the simmering resentment of the home support, who believed that their team were not receiving a fair crack of the whip from the officials.

Hearts came close to an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Ian Black's through ball for Ryan Stevenson was diverted inches wide of Allan McGregor's right-hand post by Carlos Bocanegra's attempted tackle.

The Scotland goalkeeper then played his part when he pushed away a venomous drive from Rudi Skacel. His save from Eggert Jonsson, diving low to his left to parry the midfielder's long-range effort in the 63rd minute, was even better.

However, Mrowiec ought to have equalised two minutes later when Templeton's cutback found him unmarked and eight yards from goal. Unfortunately for the Pole, he had to take the chance with his less favoured left foot and he screwed his shot wide.

Dorin Goian had his name taken for a cynical foul on Templeton as Hearts increased the pressure on the champions.

However, Rangers made the points secure two minutes after what proved to be an inspired substitution by McCoist. Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic had started on the bench after suffering from a virus but, after replacing the ineffective Kyle Lafferty, he expertly volleyed a deep cross from Bocanegra cross behind Kello with his first touch.

Sergio's team lacked that calibre of execution, as evinced when McGregor made a fine double save from converted midfielder Ryan Stevenson.

It would be interesting to have an explanation for the continued omission of John Sutton, the striker signed from Motherwell by Jim Jefferies last summer, but Hearts' media blackout prevents such disclosures.

Naismith was simply delighted to return to winning ways after being held by St Mirren at Ibrox last weekend.

"Hearts played it long and tried to make it a bit of a battle," he said. "The last year has seen the biggest transformation in our dressing room in recent times but the most important thing is that all the new players have bought into the mentality that every game must be won."

McCoist, meanwhile, revealed that Joe Sise, a Swedish winger of Gambian extraction, will be given a trial at Murray Park. The 21 year-old, who has just been relegated with Halmstads BK, will become a free agent next month.

Sergio did speak to Hearts' official website and told them his side should have won the game.

He said: "I don't think this match should have been a draw. We should have won the game. We were better but we made two mistakes and when you play big teams, they'll punish you.

"Defensively, the first goal was too easy and the second goal - I don't need to say anything. Under-15 teams would not concede a goal like this, one ball to the striker who scored a good goal. We should not be allowing things like this.

"We created seven or eight good opportunities and that is encouraging but we must score. The result was unfair but we need to score our chances.

"I felt we defended well as a unit. The players did their jobs but the mistakes cost us. We will work on these mistakes but I am satisfied.

"Their goalkeeper won them the points today and that was down to the work of our players. Each week I learn more and I find out more of their strengths and we will use this to try to move forward."

Sergio explained he withdrew Ian Black from the action, instead of Adrian Mrowiec, because he feared the player could have faced a red card after being booked.

Sergio said: "I wanted to leave us with one midfielder to try and press the game but Ian got into some trouble and it would not help us to lose a man so I changed my decision."

Match details

Hearts (4-3-3): Kello; Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Mrowiec, Black (Obua 83), Jonsson (Taouil 79); Skacel (Smith 83), Stevenson, Templeton. Subs: MacDonald (g), Novikovas, Robinson, McGowan. Booked: Mrowiec, Stevenson, Black, Zaliukas.

Rangers (4-1-4-1): McGregor; Whittaker (Broadfoot 76), Goian, Bocanegro, Wallace; McCulloch; Naismith, Davis, Edu, Papac (Wylde 72); Lafferty (Jelavic 72). Subs: Alexander (g), Bedoya, Fleck, Perry. Booked: Whittaker, Goian.

Referee: C Murray.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk