A QUOTE was doing the rounds on social media at the weekend which was credited to the former Rangers chairman, John Lawrence.
“Rangers cannot, and never shall be, second.”
That line came in better times. It will be a relief to Graeme Murty that his team defeated Hearts to get back to being in the position directly beneath Celtic. Second place is not even scant consolation for the supporters but, right now, it’s the best they have.
Rangers should have scored four or five here. Hearts were in Glasgow to frustrate and take a point. They only looked like getting anything once two goals down.
Murty would at least have been able to sleep last night but not too soundly. It’s Celtic next on a day when the title could be sealed. After that Kilmarnock visit Ibrox, they have yet to lose to Rangers, there are then trips to Pittodrie and Easter Road. The split isn’t perfect but this run-in is intriguing.
In case the Rangers board were in any doubt about the feeling among their rank and file, that was made clear in black and white on the banners. There were no songs sung in protest and a lot of empty seats.
Could you blame them? This was a wet Sunday with an early kick-off only seven days after their team produced the worst Old Firm performance in living memory.
Jak Alnwick got a rare start in goal and Jason Cummings began in the lone-striking role. Hearts were compact, well drilled, but offered too little for too long.
With this Rangers team, and it’s been the case going back to Mark Warburton’s time, the first 15 minutes of any match tends to give a clear indication whether they want it or not.
And a few crunching tackles, some closing down, and a bit of old-fashioned effort got the punters on the players’ side.
Where was this at Hampden?
Rangers should have been in front on 20 minutes but Jamie Murphy pulled his shot across goal.
The ball was cleared up the field, the Rangers defence made one of their characteristic mistakes – the culprit this time was Ross McCrorie – and Steven Naismith looked to have gotten clean through for a second. Fortunately for McCrorie there were enough players in blue shirts to force the Hearts attacker to shoot with his left and the ball was deflected well wide.
In truth, it was a poor half of football. The home fans, however, were given something to cheer two minutes after the interval.
Rangers broke down the left through Jamie Murphy, his cross found Daniel Candeias who juggled the ball before laying it to Cummings and he buried the ball with his left foot. The Rangers striker was pulled back by Christophe Berra in the run-up to the goal which made his positioning even more impressive.
Rangers started to string something together. Murphy dribbled past four maroon jerseys before his shot was blocked, and then came the second on 63 minutes which felt at the time like m ore than just a goal.
Murphy’s cross from the left wing was good but then bettered by Candeias’ diving header which left Jon McLaughlin with no chance of making a save.
The celebration was interesting. Candeias, the best player on the park by a distance, made his way to the home dugout, beckoning his team-mates to follow him. He did acknowledge Murty but it was hardly a hug. It was Andy Halliday who got a big cuddle which became a group session.
Read into that what you will.
Rangers were so comfortable and yet allowed a previously toothless opponent back into the game with 20 minutes remaining.
James Tavernier was forced into fouling Hearts substitute Lewis Moore. Don Cowie’s delivery from the free-kick was excellent, which is more than can be said about the Rangers marking, and Christophe Berra was able to header the ball home from close range. Now we had a game.
Moore roasted Tavernier, who was now on a booking, cut the ball back to Lafferty who hit the post with a lovely curling shot.
Cummings should have killed it on 83 minutes when some comical defending from Hearts allowed him a run in on McLaughlin but his effort was kept out by the Hearts keeper’s foot and poor Alfredo Morelos had a shot stopped right on the line by Michael Smith in the final seconds.
Rangers played well enough but will need to find a lot more if they are to spoil the Parkhead party. Second place remains up for grabs.
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