BARRY FERGUSON produced a trademark performance of silk and steel to inspire Rangers to a vital victory in the capital where Fernando Ricksen was the unlikely goal hero.
BARRY FERGUSON produced a trademark performance of silk and steel to inspire Rangers to a vital victory in the capital where Fernando Ricksen was the unlikely goal hero.
Ferguson covered every blade of grass, it seemed, leading his troops by example and it was he who converted the 78th minute penalty which made the win absolutely certain.
Ricksen, who had opened the scoring in 52 minutes, scored with a header in 80 minutes and then Stevie Hughes notched his first of the season in the dying seconds.
A four-goal margin may seem harsh on Hearts, but Rangers certainly deserved it for the way they keep going and creating chances.
The only down side was that Mikel Arteta came off just before half time with a hamstring injury and everyone in the Ibrox camp certainly hopes it is not serious.
There was a lack of sparkle about Rangers’ early play but they still had the chances to take control of the contest. Sadly they didn’t take them.
It as difficult for Rangers to impose their passing game as Hearts packed the midfield with five players leaving Mark de Vries up on his own.
However, there were early opportunities for Shota Arveladze and Lorenzo Amoruso and it would have made life a lot easier if just one of them had been taken.
In fact it was the returning Ronald de Boer who had the first chance in four minutes. Mikel Arteta worked some magic on the left side of the box and whipped over a decent cross. De Boer tried to back heel the ball in but it was blocked by Roddy McKenzie.
Then in 14 minutes the Spanish sensation played a great 1-2 with de Boer before playing a great pass into Arveladze who was all alone in the centre of the box but he shot straight at the Hearts keeper, who had narrowed the angle well.
Seven minutes later and Arveladze was in again but in keeping with his first half performance he failed to get on the end of Kevin Muscat’s excellent driven cross.
In fairness to Hearts, Phil Stamp tested Stefan Klos in 12 minutes with a fierce shot from 25 yards but the reliable German was right behind it. Klos also made a similar save from Kevin McKenna’s long range strike in 40 minutes and that was about the extent of Hearts’ attacking threat.
Rangers, meanwhile, continued to spurn opportunities at the other end. Neil McCann produced a good cross from the right side which made it all the way to the back post where Amoruso was positioned but he could not react quickly enough and the ball deflected off him and wide.
Hearts were incredibly fortunate to survive in 33 minutes when Ricksen broke free on the right. His shot was blocked but the ball came back to Dutchman who picked out McCann in the box.
The former Hearts winger seemed certain to score but his header was blocked on the line by Andy Webster and then cleared for a corner.
McCann had another heading opportunity a minute later – although a lot more difficult – when Amoruso whipped the ball over from the right but he could not keep his effort under the bar.
There was even more of a concern to Rangers in 38 minutes when Arteta had to come off with a hamstring injury which is extremely alarming with the Old Firm game only six days away.
There had been a bit of a running feud between McCann and Alan Maybury all day with the former being booked in 28 minutes and the latter cautioned 10 minutes later but that was not to be the end of the conflict.
Maybury was sent off in 57 minutes for another late challenge on McCann and that only made things worse for Hearts as they were already one down by that stage and it was largely Maybury’s fault.
He lost the ball to McCann in 53 minutes and the Rangers winger immediately released Arthur Numan whose cross was cleared by McKenna but only as far as the onrushing Ricksen whose right foot shot was deflected into the net.
Rangers knew they needed a second goal to make sure but Roddy McKenzie did their best to deny them with terrific saves from Arveladze and de Bier.
It was fitting that the skipper settled it with a penalty 12 minutes from time. Austin McCann clearly knocked Michael Mols to the ground as he tried to connect with de Boer’s cross and Hugh Dallas immediately pointed to the spot.
Ferguson made a highly professional job of the spotkick sending McKenzie the wrong wasy and the points were secure but there was a little bit more for the travelling support to enjoy.
Ricksen scored his second goal of the game with a super header from Arveladze’s cross from the left and then Stevie Hughes scored in injury time with a right foot shot which produced a scoreline which was more reflective of Rangers’ superiority.
Stage one of a three-match sequence which can shape the season was achieved – eventually – in style. Now for Livingston on Wednesday.
HEARTS: McKenzie; Maybury, McKenna, Webster, McCann; Ouefio (Kirk 70), MacFarlane Severin, Stamp (Simmons 61), Valois; de Vries (Wales 70).
Subs not used: Gordon, McMullan.
Sent off: Maybury (57)
Bookings: McCann (67), McKenna (79)
RANGERS: Klos; Muscat, Moore, Amoruso (Malcolm 82), Numan; Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta (Hughes 38), McCann (Mols 70); de Boer, Arveladze.
Subs not used: McGregor, Latapy.
Bookings: McCann (28)
Ref: Hugh Dallas.
Att: 12,156
Man of the Match: Barry Ferguson