| Hearts had no answer to Rangers today despite equalising just 10 minutes after Danny Wilson opening the scoring for the visitors. Steven Naismith scored a brace after Kenny Miller took Rangers into the lead again to make the final score 4-1. 16,832 turned up at Tynecastle to day but not so many were in the ground at the end as many retired to the bar to drown their sorrows early. Suso Santana was the man who scored what turned out to be a lonely consolation goal for the Jambos. Rangers made five changes from the side that crashed out of the Active Nation Scottish Cup in midweek for the game, with Kris Boyd and Miller back in the side for the visit to Tynecastle. Steven Davis recovered from illness and Lee McCulloch and Kevin Thomson both returned from suspension to bolster the midfield after sitting out Wednesday's defeat to Dundee United. Hearts made three changes from the side that beat HIbs last week, and were boosted by the return of skipper Marius Zaliukas after a month on the sidelines. Jamie MacDonald replaced Janos Balogh in goal, with the latter absent from the squad, while Suso was also drafted into the starting line-up.
Hearts suffered a nightmare start as Rangers went into the lead with just four minutes on the clock. Boyd won a free-kick 30 yards out and Thomson stepped up to pick out Wilson at the back post and the youngster beat Ruben Palazuelos to the ball to bullet a header past MacDonald and claim his first goal. Gary Glen had the ball in the back of the net for Hearts a few minutes later but was unfortunately flagged for offside He then threatened with a well-struck shot goalkeeper Allan McGregor managed to block. The Jambos were back in the game just 12 minutes later 16 minutes when Sasa Papac's disastrous attempt to clear a Zaliukas ball fell for Suso and he unleashed a superb, unstoppable volley past the helpless McGregor. MacDonald was called into action at the other end when Davis tried his luck with a ferocious shot that the keeper had tip over at full-stretch. The Ibrox side continued to press but MacDonald was proving to be on fine form, racing off his line to deny Boyd before he had a chance to pull the trigger, before swiping a Miller effort over the crossbar. However, things changed when he was picking the ball out of the back of the net after 31 minutes. Naismith rattled the crossbar before the ball broke again for Miller and this time he managed to deliver with a diving header past the keeper. Any hopes of another comeback in the second half were dealt a blow when Rangers extended their lead four minutes after the restart. Naismith timed his run well to collect a Steven Whittaker pass before flicking into the bottom corner to claim his first goal since late September. Hearts could have hit back quickly through David Obua but he screwed his shot wide, before McGregor did well to push a stinging shot from Zaliukas just over. Boyd managed to force the ball home but the assistant referee already had his flag raised. The celebrations began for the travelling fans with 77 minutes gone when Naismith struck again to grab his second goal of the day. The midfielder was tripped 30 yards out before throwing himself in front of Davis' free-kick in plenty of space to glance a header past MacDonald and wrap up the three points for Walter Smith's men. Not a good day. Hearts: MacDonald, Jason Thomson, Jonsson, Zaliukas, Lee Wallace, Santana, Black, Palazuelos, Kingston, Glen, Obua. Subs: Ridgers, Nade, Stevenson, Templeton, Smith, Craig Thomson, Robinson. Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Wilson, Papac, Davis, McCulloch, Thomson, Naismith, Miller, Boyd. Subs: Alexander, Edu, Novo, Beasley, Smith, Fleck, Little. Referee: C Murray |
