Missiles thrown at Boyd?

[ian1964 10,448]

THE numbers may have diminished from last season's double-winning squad, and there will no doubt be much biting of nails and glances at the clock as the transfer window edges into its final week.

 

But, as this summer of speculation over more possible exits and on-going financial worries continue, Rangers displayed one massive trait at Tynecastle that has not abandoned them - a fierce will to win.

ONE BY ONE

By Thomas Jordan

 

McGREGOR Error

Under pressure to turn on the style after being handed back the No.1 jersey but badly at fault for Hearts' openinger. However, a fantastic second-half save from Goncalves was a major turning point in the match.

 

WHITTAKER Steady

Difficult afternoon for the full-back with Hearts having the benefit of an extra man but held his position and got up and down the park.

 

PAPAC Decent

Always among the most consistent performers and performed well as full-back and third centre-half at times.

 

BOUGHERRA Solid

Rangers must avoid losing the defender during the transfer window or they are in serious trouble as he was outstanding once again at the heart of the defence.

 

WEIR Leader

Forget the fact he is closing in on 40. Stood up and was counted when his side needed him most.

 

McCULLOCH Clinical

An early contender for top goalscorer this season? Highly unlikely but the midfielder is thriving in his new central midfield role after netting his second goal in as many matches.

 

THOMSON Rash

Waited 10 months for his first competitive start but lasted all of 13 minutes before being sent off for needless late challenge on Ian Black. Left his team-mates seriously up against it for the restof the match.

 

DAVIS Excellent

Dragged Rangers forward and made the difference. An intelligent footballer with fantastic work ethic.

 

FLECK Unfortunate

Never really got a chance of influence the game after Thomson was sent packing and came off at the interval to allow Smith to adopt a more solid line-up and system.

 

NAISMITH Busy

Won his side a last-minute penalty and although he wasn't always at his best against Hearts he worked hard for his team-mates.

 

MILLER Hard working

Frustrating afternoon for the striker as he led the line on his own with next to no service but didn't stop trying.

 

SMITH Solid

Came on at half-time and operated as a wing-back at times as he tried to get up and down the park but the defensive side of his game helped Rangers take control of the game.

 

BOYD Winner

If anyone was going to snatch a winner with just two minutes on the field then it was him. Stepped up to score from the penalty spot in the last minute to seal the points.

 

WALTER SMITH Clever

The manager more than earned his money at Tynecastle. A goal down - and a man down at the interval - he swapped Fleck for Stevie Smith, tinkered with the formation and system and was rewarded with a vital victory.

 

It was that spirit, that mark of champions, which allowed them to leave the capital with three big points after yet another highly-charged showdown with Hearts.

 

Sure, there was much for those of a Rangers persuasion to be concerned about in the aftermath of the 2-1 win.

 

The poor attempt keeper Allan McGregor made to save the shot from David Witteveen which gave Csaba Laszlo's men the lead in the first half was one.

 

The entire Gers defence, too, was at fault for allowing Witteveen to get in a position to take a shot on goal in the first place, although TV pictures showed the striker should have been flagged for offside in the build-up to the goal.

 

And, yes, Kevin Thomson's ordering off in his first start in nine months for a rash tackle on Ian Black after little more than 10 minutes, changed the complexion of the match and was a challenge the midfielder should have stayed away from.

 

Nevertheless, Walter Smith's side left with the spoils. And, to have emerged with victory from this bear-pit type arena having played with 10 men for over 80 minutes, says a lot about the spirit in the champions' camp.

 

It may have taken a highly-controversial last-minute decision from referee Craig Thomson, one of several he made in this live TV encounter, to ensure they grabbed the win courtesy of Kris Boyd's penalty, but Rangers played like THEY had the numerical advantage in the final stages and deserved what they got for driving on until the whistle.

 

Smith said: "In the second half we played better, we imposed ourselves on the game. It's always a tough place to come, Tynecastle. Sometimes when you've got 10 men you can play between the opposition a bit better, strangely enough. But at the time we took the lead I felt we deserved it for what we had put in to the game in the second half.

 

"We had to battle for 80-odd minutes with 10 men, and we did so after a first half where we didn't start well."

 

As the players traipsed off the pitch at the end of an enthralling meeting, the rejoicing visiting supporters chanted as one: "That's why we're champions!" They were spot-on.

 

It is not the games which Rangers will win at a canter at home which will see them retain their title - it is matches like these. The points they pick up on the road, especially when the chips are down and the odds are stacked heavily against them, will prove crucial.

 

That good teams win when they are playing badly is an old cliche. Still, it remains true and that is exactly what the Glasgow club did yesterday. The grit and determination they displayed in Gorgie will serve them well in the months ahead and they are sure to smooth the rough edges off their play.

 

McGregor certainly showed great mental strength to shrug aside his blunder and produce a magnificent goal-saving touch from a Jose Goncalves shot early in the second half.

 

That sublime touch allowed Rangers to draw level when Lee McCulloch rose well and glanced a curling Stevie Smith free-kick into the opposition net.

 

The foul by David Obua on Kenny Miller which led to that strike was every bit as bad, if not worse, than Thomson's on Black and just resulted in a caution.

 

The Rangers midfielder should probably only have received a yellow card from Thomson, Scotland's leading official, but cannot feel too hard done by after committing such a foolish act.

 

His manager felt it was harsh, saying: "I thought it looked far worse than it actually was - but it was an opportunity to send him off.

 

"I don't think there was any great contact made and obviously if there had been, the player would never have been able to continue in the manner he did do for the rest of the game."

 

Like Kevin Thomson, Ismael Bouzid must also be wondering what he was thinking about today after challenging Steven Naismith so clumsily on the edge of his own penalty box in the final minute.

 

The Hearts support were incensed by the decision, but television replays again showed it was on the line and referee Thomson had called it correctly.

 

Boyd, who had been on the park for seconds after being left on the bench following a bout of illness in midweek, stepped up to take the spot-kick.

 

He made no mistake and buried it powerfully underneath Janos Balogh to open his account for the season in some style.

 

The man who finished last season as Scotland's top scorer was ecstatic to net his first goal at Tynecastle in seven years in such dramatic circumstances.

 

Having failed to hit the target in pre-season or against Falkirk last week, Boyd is sure to be lifted enormously by his contribution.

 

It is also to be hoped that Hearts will take decisive action against those who showered the celebrating players with missiles afterwards.

 

But, if they continue to show such impressive resolve and sharpen up defensively, the Rangers players can expect to keep on being showered with praise by their followers

[Gazza_8 233]

I would imagine most people would be celebrating the goal with friends & relatives, than sitting there watching Boydy celebrating on tv

 

Have you not watched it a 2nd, 3rd or 4th time? I know I have.

[Super_Ally 0]

As the players traipsed off the pitch at the end of an enthralling meeting, the rejoicing visiting supporters chanted as one: "That's why we're champions!" They were spot-on.

 

It is not the games which Rangers will win at a canter at home which will see them retain their title - it is matches like these. The points they pick up on the road, especially when the chips are down and the odds are stacked heavily against them, will prove crucial.

 

How good is that to read.

 

Finally a team/squad with mental toughness.

 

Quite enjoyed that report, shockingly. Didn't try to make out we got all the decisions. In fact quite the opposite. Said Thommo shouldn't have walked, there were equally bad fouls and that it was a pen.

[calscot 0]

That's the most Rangers-friendly report I've seen in a long time. Took me by surprise...

 

Even the penalty was called as correct.

 

 

Re team spirit. I think it's significant that Walter was telling us that the team were in far better spirits than the start of last year and it looking to be the case.

 

We were in pretty good spirts two years ago and had a great start to the season and Europe. It was only the postponements and replays which prevented us from at least winning the treble.

 

Last year we started badly with poor spirit but rallied and still won the double so it could be good season coming up despite not adding to the squad.

 

Perhaps our additions will be the likes of Smith, Thomson, more of Edu and Naismith, Fleck, Aaron and an improved McCulloch.

 

With regards to the latter, he was the main misfit of last season and many would be happy to see him leave. However, the guy was a proven player in the Premiership so there is the hopeful scenario that the last season and a half was just a horrendous dip in his normal form which he has now recovered from. I don't expect him to be a star of the season but there is a chance he could be a pretty solid squad player if he keeps it up.

 

Anyway, we're really going to need that spirit if we're going to do anything much at all in the CL, our national team and the SPL clubs in Europe have shown that a team full of Scots is not usually much of an asset.

[Norris Cole 0]

Kaunas destroyed us mentally for about 6 months IMO. So many weak performances until our big run in the Spring. It's been fantastic to just sit back this time and watch other teams get themselves papped out, waiting for the group stage draw.