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Hearts gate-crashed the Ibrox leaving do for Michael Mols and the De Boer
twins by recording their first victory at Ibrox since January 1996.
Joe Hamill netted the only goal of the match to end a 22-game winless run
against Rangers that dated back almost six years.
The result was hugely pleasing to Jambos boss Craig Levein, who has maintained
his side's reputation as the best outside the Old Firm for the second season
running and under difficult circumstances both financially and politically too.
But the pre-match build-up had centred around the final Ibrox appearances of
captain for the night Mols and fellow Dutchmen Ronald and Frank de Boer.
There might be other departures too, with midfielder Mikel Arteta the most
likely suspect and that would be a shame for Rangers after this display.
Chris Burke apart, he was often the only Ranger willing to take on opponents
and came the closest to giving his side the lead before the break.
The opportunity had been all his own work as he had been bundled over just
outside the box on the left by Paul Hartley and elected to take the free-kick
himself.
It was cleverly placed as well as firmly struck and would have gone in at the
near post had Craig Gordon, the Scotland Under-21 international goalkeeper,
reacted in time to make a low stop.
There were other, half chances with Burke having earlier taken down a superb
lofted pass from Arteta and fired a first time effort wide.
Mols sent a skimming drive skidding wide as well but the two best chances of
the first half belonged to the visitors.
Alan Hutton gifted the first to fellow rookie Hamill with a poor touch on the
edge of his box. Hamill had all the goal to aim at but fired wastefully wide.
Hutton redeemed himself on the half-hour mark, however, by blocking Scott
Severin's header from a Steven Boyack corner on the line.
Severin and Boyack will also be saying their goodbyes soon as they have been
told the Tynecastle club cannot afford to offer them new deals.
Manager Craig Levein was looking ahead to next season with his team selection,
however, as top scorer Mark de Vries and defender Alan Maybury were both left
out in case they picked up bookings and were suspended for games that actually
meant something.
Likewise, Rangers manager Alex McLeish had told goalkeeper Stefan Klos that
for him the season was over so Allan McGregor could pick up some more experience
before being shunted off on loan next term.
It was all very unsatisfactory stuff as far as the home fans were concerned
and the watching Berti Vogts could not have failed to spot that striker Steven
Thompson was having a clumsy game that will hasten his relegation to the bench
next season when Dado Prso pulls on a blue shirt.
Zura Khizanishvili was suffering similarly at the other end and his tendency
to try to play his way out of trouble, and not always managing it, means only an
injury crisis will get him a game at centre back once Jean-Alain Boumsong and
Marvin Andrews arrive.
The Georgian could still make a midfield position his own however, especially
if Fernando Ricksen is punted in the summer.
Frank de Boer was replaced at half-time by Maurice Ross and Peter Lovenkrands
was given the second half to impress watching Denmark scouts when he filled in
for Stephen Hughes.
Within five minutes of the restart Hearts took the lead through Hamill, who
seized on to an under-hit back pass from Hutton, who had moved to centre back so
Ross could play on the right.
The 20-year-old had little difficulty slotting past McGregor, who was required
to make a save from Graham Weir not long after.
Few equalising chances materialised and referee Dougie McDonald showed no
interest in awarding Rangers a penalty when Paolo Vanoli went to ground in a
crowded box near the hour mark.
The phoney war nature of the contest was illustrated by the absence of any
yellow cards until the 74th minute, when Hearts midfielder Neil Janczyk was
booked for a late challenge on Hutton.
Thompson then sent a close range header from an Arteta corner wide before
Ronald de Boer finally made his entry in the 79th minute, replacing Mols.
There was a standing ovation for Mols, who was clearly moved, but his fellow
countryman was unable to provide a happy ending for the party.
A booking for Hutton soon followed, with the defender having made a reckless
challenge on Patrick Kisnorbo, who was the next to be shown a yellow card for a
foul on Burke as the game became more and more fragmented.
Teams
Rangers: McGregor, Hutton, Khizanishvili,
Frank de Boer (Ross 45), Vanoli, Ricksen, Arteta,
Hughes (Lovenkrands 45), Burke, Mols (Ronald de Boer 79),
Thompson.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, MacKenzie.
Booked: Hutton.
Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Severin, Kisnorbo,
Boyack (Sloan 80), MacFarlane, Hartley, Janczyk, Hamill,
Weir (McKenna 75).
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Wyness, Simmons.
Booked: Janczyk, Kisnorbo.
Goals: Hamill 50.
Att: 47,467
Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).
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