Rangers and Heart of Midlothian ’s
first meeting of the 2014/2015 was certainly not without it’s excitement and
surprises. It took the match nearly the full 90 minutes to finally take off,
but the final 6 minutes were certainly exciting stuff.
Going into stoppage time, Hearts were 1-0 up and a mere 6
minutes away from achieving an unexpected victory. The large amount of injury
time was a result of Hearts keeper Neil Alexander having to be carried off the
field around the 65 minute mark. He was taken to the hospital with a possible
fractured cheek.
By this point Hearts were already 1-0 to the good, the goal
resulting from a Danny Wilson header. Wilson
could hardly believe his luck when a relatively poor corner sailed over the
hapless Rangers defence onto his obliging head. The fact that Wilson used to play for Rangers, no doubt
made the goal hurt just a bit more than usual for the stunned home support.
It was a lead as unlikely as it was sudden. Rangers had been
the better side up to that point and had dominated most of the first half, but
now they found themselves on the back foot as their home support muttered in
derision.
On more than one occasion, Hearts were forced to thrash the
goal from their very goal line as The Ger’s upped the pressure, but still a
goal could not be found. That was until the very beginning of stoppage time.
The Hearts defence were caught wanting and Nicky Law slotted one away, to the
delight of the home support.
It was a goal that had likely been coming and was probably
deserved based on the balance of play. Law had in fact just been announced over
the stadium tannoy as the man of the match, something which had attracted a
rigorously negative response from the stands. You had to think they felt a lot
better about the announcement once the ball had crossed the line.
With momentum now in Rangers hands, it was expected that the
game would now have a winning goal and indeed it did. But the scorers of that
winning goal were playing in maroon. Almost from the kick off, Osman Sow found
himself hurtling towards the Rangers goal. Zalukas attempted, and failed, to
stop his shot and it trickled almost in slow motion into the back of The
Ranger’s net.
Hearts were able to close the game out and earned themselves
an impressive 3 points. The Rangers supporters made sure to let their
displeasure be known with a cavalcade of boo’s to their beleaguered home team.
It seems like Glaswegian sides are having a tough start to the season at all ends
of the city. Partick Thistle best beware!
Of course, before anyone starts thinking this is the end for
Rangers, it’s important to understand that this is just one match. Hearts and
Hibs will both drop points in other fixtures this year, fixtures that Rangers
will likely win. Rangers will still be the bookies favourites to capture the
league title after this result and I don’t see that changing very soon.
Ally McCoist has been no stranger to criticism since taking
on the manager’s seat at Ibrox and maybe now we’re seeing some of that
criticism prove itself to be valid?
Hearts squad is a mostly young one. It is made up of players
who faced trial by fire last year in the Premier division. Rangers squad is one
made up mostly of journeymen and veterans with a few younger players sprinkled
in.
The younger players in Hearts squad look hungry. They feel
like they have something to prove. If it hadn’t been for a 15 point deduction,
this Hearts squad could have very likely stayed up last year. The attack of Sow
was the attack of a player who was hungry and wasn’t afraid to take a chance.
Rangers young players by contrast looked cowed. They look
worried that if they slip up, they’ll be out of the squad. McCoist publicly
stated that the reason younger players weren’t getting games was because they
weren’t good enough. He’s made it very clear that he’ll play the kids because
he has to.
Gary Locke played kids last year because he had to, but he
was always prepared to defend them. McCoist is only looking to defend himself.
He’ll have to start doing a lot more of it if he isn’t
prepared to give youth a chance.
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