IBROX MEN DISH OUT BIG LESSON
Clinical Rangers exact revenge on Hearts and make it a losing debut for Cathro as they move clear in second
IAN CATHRO endured a harsh introductory lesson on managing in Scotland’s top flight and even his cheerleaders, at the end of a week of wildly contrasting views aired over his appointment, would admit his debut defeat was merited.
There was little the new Hearts head coach could do to prevent Rangers from purring towards a victory that would have been more comprehensive had substitute Martyn Waghorn not passed up a hat-trick of second-half chances.
So as the world of Scottish football waits to see how 30-year-old Cathro reinvents the game itself in the coming months, two Rangers players reinvented themselves to emerge in old scoring form.
Rob Kiernan, with his first goal since scoring for Birmingham against Wolves in April 2015, bulleted a first-half header home. The outstanding Barrie McKay struck in the 51st minute to round off a display fuelled by a confidence seldom seen during the trickier days of Rangers’ adjustment to the top flight.
This was only the 21-year-old’s second goal of the season and first in the Ladbrokes Premiership. Championship excellence earned McKay a Scotland call-up last term and, after a form dip and spell warming the bench, this was a far more encouraging piece of evidence of his undoubted ability to step up in grade.
Perry Kitchen and Callum Paterson were booked for using foul means to ground McKay as all his menace returned to make him a problem both wide and on the wander inside.
That’s back-to-back statement successes at home over their rivals for the runners-up berth as Hearts followed Aberdeen in leaving Ibrox with nothing. Mark Warburton, bursting with praise for his players, has guided Rangers to a four-point advantage on Aberdeen, with Hearts a further point back.
Perhaps Cathro’s predecessor, Robbie Neilson, did Rangers a favour before moving to MK Dons. That 2-0 win over Rangers at Tynecastle prompted much criticism of the Ibrox players. At home on successive Saturdays, they have answered up.
All departments functioned yesterday as Rangers matched their visitors for physicality and intensity — both of which were sorely lacking ten days ago. Danny Wilson was in the right place at every call as Tony Watt and Conor Sammon sought, late on, to provide the threat that had been so lacking from Hearts in the final third.
The fall guy at Tynecastle, James Tavernier, was used for his athleticism in the middle of the park this time as last Saturday’s goal hero Lee Hodson remained at right-back. And, up top, Joe Garner enjoyed his most effective shift since signing in August.
Up against the gritty Garner, Hearts were the team with the jitters at the back early on. A nervy array of stray passes had Cathro appealing for calm from his defenders. A curious opening given that, albeit bridging three different coaching staffs, this was the same settled Hearts side for the third game running.
Hearts, via Don Cowie, had the ball in the net in 17 minutes only for the strike to belatedly count for nothing — a controversial decision rich with irony given Warburton’s protests about late offside decisions last week down Gorgie way.
Wes Foderingham’s stunning point- blank save as Kiernan appeared to divert a Robbie Muirhead cutback at his own goal sparked a scrap to convert on the follow-up. After Cowie eventually tucked home from three yards there was quite a delay before standside official Stuart Stevenson cut short the celebrations.
Paterson, who provided the driven ball across goal for that Cowie touch, raged against the next key decision, too. For that swung momentum in completely the opposite direction as Rangers took a 29th-minute lead.
Paterson was penalised for barging Jason Holt off the ball and let his former team-mate know all about his disgust at the call by ref John Beaton. Tavenier’s set-piece was swung over to perfectly match the run of Kiernan. Jack Hamilton was emphatically beaten by the centre-half’s first goal in 64 Rangers appearances.
Rangers gave Hearts little wriggle room for a reply of any worth in the second half by going two clear on 51 minutes. This was a shocking misjudgement from Faycal Rherras, who stood rooted to the spot as he gazed above to watch and allow a long throw-in from Lee Wallace to bounce in the box and clear his head.
Preying on the ponderous work was McKay. The winger showed all the composure to take the ball on the drop then tuck home past Hamilton at the near post. It was all too much for Igor Rossi, who clattered into McKay and then appeared to catch the floored forward on the head with his studs. The Rangers bench demanded action but none was taken.
Still, they could have made Hearts suffer more but Waghorn was blunt from the bench when he should have put Rangers out of sight. His delay and switch to the right foot let Hamilton save to keep Hearts in the game.
Other chances were blazed over and planted in the side-netting but, if Rangers can beat one of their main rivals convincingly while last season’s top scorer misfires, it augurs well for the winter months keeping Aberdeen and Hearts at arm’s length.