Battling Hearts hold on lead as Rangers sent packing

Hearts 2 - 1 Rangers
HEARTS fought tooth and nail for this fifth consecutive victory and thoroughly deserved to take three points from second-placed Rangers on a day when brawn was as vital as craft for Csaba Laszlo's side.

A 2-0 lead, earned through goals from Marius Zaliukas and Larry Kingston, was reduced to 2-1 in the first half but dogged, determined Hearts remained resolute throughout a testing second period to claim a priceless win. Even Lee Wallace's late dismissal for two bookable offences did not destabilise the hosts.

They enjoyed sterling displays from both goalscorers as well as Christophe Berra, Andy Driver and Bruno Aguiar, the outstanding player afield. With Aguiar's compatriot Pedro Mendes in the opposite midfield, the former Benfica midfielder appeared to determined to emerge with the upper hand and contributed heavily to both Hearts goals with scintillating set-piece deliveries.

Laszlo reinstated Kingston in place of Eggert Jonsson but most interest surrounded the hosts' goalkeeping position, not for the first time in a match against Rangers. Flu-ridden Janos Balogh was rendered unavailable and Jamie MacDonald stepped in for his maiden start at Tynecastle.

A familiar issue raised its head prior to kick-off with Hearts players once again awaiting payment of wages. This could have caused a distraction but, after a pre-match deluge of streamers from visiting supporters was cleared from the field, the hosts began in determined fashion. It wasn't long until another equally lamentable matter raised its head - 12 minutes to be exact - as the Rangers fans indulged in their first sectarian chant of the afternoon relating to Bobby Sands.

Regarding the football, the opening exchanges saw Hearts hem Rangers in their own half before a double entendre shortly after the 20-minute mark. Firstly, Aguiar's free-kick found the head of Berra in amongst a gathering of players, his header was parried by Allan McGregor but Zaliukas was in place to slam the ball home from close range. Less than two minutes later, following another Aguiar set-piece and another towering Berra header, Kingston converted the second as McGregor flapped around his six-yard area. Amid the delirium taking place in the Tynecastle stands, the general consensus was that this was now Hearts' game to lose.

Rangers regained a foothold in proceedings on 26 minutes when Christos Karipidis inadvertently put the ball into his own net. The Greek challenged Kris Boyd for Charlie Adam's free-kick and the ball bounced downwards and up onto the crossbar. As it came down Karipidis, sliding in to clear, succeeded only in deflecting it over the Hearts goal line.

Hearts resumed control towards half-time and Kingston ought to have scored after an intelligent interchange with Aguiar in the inside-right channel. The Ghanaian forced McGregor into a one-handed save early in the second period with a vicious drive on the run from 25 yards, but thereafter Rangers began a period of concerted pressure for the first time in the game.

Berra found himself in an enthralling physical battle with Boyd and, when Chris Burke and Nacho Novo replaced Adam and the anonymous Jean-Claude Darcheville, Rangers' attack assumed another dimension due to the injection of pace. Burke was heavily involved in Wallace's dismissal due his powerful running. The young full-back was cautioned twice for fouls on the winger on 71 and 76 minutes and, although the first appeared soft, there was no doubting the second, from behind, merited the yellow card.

With ten men, Hearts set up camp deep inside their own half for the closing stages expecting an visiting barrage. Kris Boyd dispatched a knockdown from Kyle Lafferty into the Roseburn Stand after 82 minutes and then claimed for a penalty in stoppage time after a penalty-box altercation with Robbie Neilson. Kirk Broadfoot then jabbed a half-chance wide, and with that Rangers' hopes of an equaliser evaporated.

Hearts (4-4-1-1): MacDonald; Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Kingston, Karipidis, Palazuelos, Driver; Aguiar; Nade. Subs: Kello, Makela, Obua 85 (for Nade), Cesnauskis 81 (for Aguiar), Mole, Thomson, Jonsson 64 (for Kingston).

Rangers (4-4-2): McGregor; Broadfoot, Bougherra, Weir, Whittaker; Laffert, Mendes, Ferguson, Adam; Boyd, Darcheville. Subs: Alexander, Edu, Novo 72 (for Darcheville), McCulloch, Burke 56 (for Adam), Niguez, Loy.

Referee: Dougie McDonald.

Attendance: 15,710.