Maroon Memories: Ryan Stevenson shoots down Rangers

Hearts signalled that they are contenders in this season’s Scottish Premier League race with a dogged win over defending champions Rangers.

Ryan Stevenson’s close-range finish on 77 minutes settled an engrossing game and moves the Tynecastle side to within two points of second-placed Rangers.

Rangers dominated the early stages, with Marian Kello making a string of saves to deny the visitors.

And Gers substitute Nikica Jelavic struck the crossbar late in the game.

Hearts have now won 12 of their past 14 league outings and visit leaders Celtic on Wednesday in what will be a further test of their title credentials.

Rangers, who have a game in hand on Jim Jefferies’ side, will feel hard done by having made all of the early running but they lacked the killer touch up front the day after top scorer Kenny Miller was sold to Bursaspor.

Rangers had Hearts pinned back for most of the first half hour and the home team had Kello to thank for keeping them in the game.

With Jamie Ness cutting a composed figure and Maurice Edu biting into tackles, the visitors had a stranglehold on midfield.

Kyle Lafferty, deployed as a lone striker, fired in a raking strike inside the first minute and Kello had to look lively to keep the ball from finding the bottom corner of the net.

The Northern Ireland internationalist then scuffed a shot on the turn straight at Kello, following a good delivery from Edu on the right flank.

Steven Naismith sent a first-time effort wide from the left before Ness drew two fine stops from the impressive Hearts keeper.

The teenager charged in behind the home defence and Kello did well to protect his near post with a diving stop. A minute later, the youngster powered in a rising shot from 20 yards, which was prevented from nestling in the top corner by the fingertips of the Slovak.

Having dispossessed the dithering Adrian Mrowiec, Edu sent Lafferty scampering towards goal and the striker elected to shoot early from 25 yards but Kello was once again able to save.

With the Hearts defence stretched, Naismith found more room on the left and the busy Kello got down smartly

to smother the Scotland midfielder’s low strike.

As half-time approached, Hearts finally threatened when Rudi Skacel fizzed a shot-cum-cross across the face of goal, before Allan McGregor blocked from Stephen Elliott. The Rangers keeper was nearly embarrassed when a hopeful, long ball forward from Eggert Jonsson almost bounced over him but he managed to claw it away for a corner that was headed wide by Marius Zaliukas.

Rangers left-back Sasa Papac was first to threaten after the interval as his gallop forward culminated with a low right-foot strike that was gathered at the second attempt by Kello.

However, with Hearts markedly improved in midfield, the visitors could not find the room they were afforded in the opening period and the goalmouth action dried up.

That was until the 77th minute when Stevenson prodded the home team in front from six yards.

Full-back Lee Wallace cut in from the left and found Rudi Skacel in a central position and the ball found its way to Stevenson after his team-mate had taken a tumble then fired in a tame shot. The match-winner took a touch amid the frenzy before steering the ball home.

Jelavic rattled the crossbar with a smart shot on the turn as Rangers steamed forward in search of an equaliser but the men in maroon held on to take maximum points.

Hearts: Kello, Wallace, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Palazuelos, Templeton (Glen 56), Stevenson (Black 88), Skacel (Thomson 84), Mrowiec, Elliott. Subs not used: MacDonald, Barr, Obua, Thomson, Suso Santana, Black, Glen.

Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra, McCulloch, Edu (Fleck 75), Davis, Ness (Weiss 80), Lafferty (Jelavic 69), Naismith. Subs not used: Alexander, Foster, Webster, Weiss, Fleck, Jelavic, Beattie.

Referee: Mike Tumilty.

Attendance: 16, 737.