Hearts came to Ibrox and got everyone behind the ball but, as the Little General said after the game, they were well within their rights to do so. The Jambos proved against Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup last week what a solid rearguard they have, and it was up to Rangers to break them down.
That was something the Light Blues struggled to do and it wasn’t until half-time, when Bert Konterman saw his bullet header saved by Antti Niemi, that they actually had an attempt on target. Advocaat’s game plan wasn’t working and he introduced Neil McCann at the break with Jorg Albertz sacrificed.
That change gave Gers width on both sides and, more importantly, it was McCann’s run which led to the goal just two minutes short of the hour mark. The former Tynecastle man slipped the ball to Billy Dodds but the striker’s effort was well saved by Niemi. However, the ball fell to Ronald de Boer who was on hand to tap it into the empty net. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing against, if they get 10 men behind the ball there’s no space to play your game.
Matches like Sunday’s show why you need players of the calibre of Michael Mols who can turn players and do something a bit special. Advocaat is easing Mols back into the action after his injury nightmare but I’m sure all Bluenoses can’t wait until he’s at full fitness.
Another key man against Hearts was Tugay Kerimoglu. The Turkish playmaker had a stormer yet he’ll probably find himself back on the bench tonight with Barry Ferguson returning from suspension. Do I sympathise with Tugay? To be honest I do because I think he’s a class player and was involved in almost every Rangers move on Sunday.
As for de Boer, it doesn’t matter where you play him – midfielder or up front – his touch is great, he can hold the ball up and his and his movement is excellent as well. The two men who have come in for most criticism this term, Lorenzo Amoruso and Konterman, actually did a good job.
Gers’ defensive pairing took pelters in the first few games but it always takes time for players to form an understanding. In fact, that was probably Konterman’s best display in the Light Blue. But the important thing was that Bert and Lorenzo did the easy thing – any danger and they cleared the ball into touch.
Right-back Fernando Ricksen has also been under pressure from the fans but was reasonable on Sunday – as he was against Aberdeen last week – and appears to be getting over his Old Firm nightmare.
The Rangers rearguard did a good job but they’ll need to play like that – and then some – when they drop in on the millionaires’ playground to take on France’s football aristocrats this evening.