29th February 2019 Hearts v Rangers 1-0

I was going to watch Edinburgh United v Tynecastle this afternoon but game was called off as pitch was waterlogged so only going to one game today. I left home at 16.40 to walk to Tynecastle. The weather had been fine all day but as soon I as I left the apartment block the rain started. I had arranged to meet Craig outside Tynecastle at 17.00. He was taking Harper and one of his friends. However his wife Claire also wanted to go along so he had got her a ticket which I had picked up for him at Tynecastle this morning. They were all going to meet some of Craig's friends in the pub before the game. Craig's party arrived just after 17.00 and I gave hm the ticket for Claire. We all entered the ground together and I showed Claire my plaque on the wall in the entrance to sections P and Q. We all them went to our allocated seats and I reached my seat ten minutes before kick-off at 17.30. The crowd was lower than normal due I think to a combination of factors. These included the game being live on BT Sport, Hearts recent poor form, the reputation of the Rangers fans and the poor weather. However those who stayed way missed an excellent game.

I was a bit surprised by the Hearts line-up with recent regulars Jamie Walker, Liam Boyce and Andy Irving on the substitutes bench. It may be that manager Daniel Stendel was looking to keep them fresh for the important league fixture against Hibs coming up next week, assuming that a replay is not required for todays match. Into the side came midfielders Loic Damour and Oliver Bozanic with Conor Washington partnering Steven Naismith up front. Rangers left out top scorer Alfredo Morelos. It was rumoured and later confirmed he was late returning from a trip home to Columbia and had been left out for disciplinary reasons. Greg Stewart made a rare appearance up front in his absence with recent signing Iannis Hagi on the bench.

The game started with Rangers having most of the ball but the Hearts defence coped well nd no clear chances fell to the away side. Hearts suffered a blow after sixteen minutes when John Souttar went down in the middle of the pitch without heavy physical contact. After the physio came on he was carried of the pitch on an stretcher with what was later revealed as a snapped Achilles tendon and I think that will bring an end to his season. Clevid Dikamona came on in his place and slotted into the backline. I like Dikamona as a player as he is a good defender and always gives one hundred percent although his passing from the back could do with improvement. Hearts came more into the game after the substitution and could have had a penalty after Naismith had his shirt collar pulled by a defender in the area but the referee, Steven McLean, was not interested. The striker stayed on his feet in his effort to get to the ball but the referee may have given a different decision if he had fallen. Lewis Moore had the first shot on target fro just inside the penalty box after a fine pas by Sean Clare. Alan McGregor however made a comfortable save. He had a more difficult save to make shortly after when Naismith flicked on a Bozanic free-kick from about sixteen yards out. The keeper was forced to tip the ball over his crossbar. There were two controversial incidents just before halftime. Rangers George Edmundson clearly used an arm to deflect the ball for a corner under pressure from Naismith. Referee McLean waved away Hearts claims and awarded the corner. From the corner on the left taken by Moore the ball ended up in the Rangers net after coming off Damour at the near post. From where I was sitting it was not clear what part of Damour body had deflected the ball and the goal was awarded. The referee was then surrounded by the whole Rangers side screaming protests as the Hearts side moved to the halfway line for the restart. The referee changed his mind, after a message from fourth official Willie Collum,  and awarded Rangers a free kick to restart the game. Television pictures clearly showed the ball coming of both of Damour raised hands albeit he did receive a push In the back from a defender which may have lead to him lifting his arms. Television also showed the referee had a clear view of the incident but after awarding the free-kick he did not book Damour for deliberate handball. This was fortunate as Damour had already been booked and a second yellow would have meant a sending off.

The second half started much as the first had ended with little being seen of Rangers as an attacking force. Clare and Michael Smith were linking well for Hearts on the right although clear chances were not coming. The deadlock was broken in fifty-eight minutes when Jack mistimed a clearance outside his own penalty area. The ball cam to James Tavernier who attempted to head the ball back to McGregor. The header was short and Moore nipped in as McGregor rushed out of his goal. Moore took the ball round the keeper in the penalty area and passed low into the six yard box. Bozanic had made a run into the area and shot low into the net to put Hearts in the lead. Shortly after the goal Rangers had their first attempt on target when Ryan Kent ran onto a through ball from Joe Aribo. His low shot from about six yards out and wide of the goal on the right was blocked by Zlamal at his near post. After more Hearts pressure Edmundson attempted a clearance from just inside his own penalty area. Somehow he managed to hit the ball with his heel and deflect it to the unmarked Naismith about twelve yards out. As McGregor ran from his goal Naismith poked the ball past the keeper but the attempt crept past the post. As the game moved into the last ten minutes Edmundson continued his eventful day with two missed headed chances. The first from a corner he headed over the bar with the second, a better opening, after a cross from a partially cleared corner again flew over the bar.

The final whistle blew and ‘Magic’ by Pilot again blared out over the tannoy as the disappointed Rangers team left the field. Hearts stayed on to celebrate in front of their fans until they left the field to rapturous applause. As I left my seat and headed out of the ground the music changed to ‘The Hearts Song’ with everyone singing along as they left the ground. I walked home happy wondering who Hearts would get in the semi-final. With Hearts now appearing in the four consecutive semi-final ties trips to Hampden are becoming a common occurrence.

Teams

Hearts: Zlamal, Smith, Hickey, Souttar, Bozanic, Halkett, Clare, Damour, Washington, Naismith, Moore.

Subs: Dikamona, Walker, Boyce

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Barasic, Edmundson, Jack, Goldson, Aribo, Davis, Stewart, Anfield, Kent.

Subs: Ojo, Hagi, Defoe.