Brave Tynecastle men caught out after matching McCoist's double Gascoigne's genius the final Hearts breaker
Ken Gallacher, Chief Football Writer
25 Nov 1996
Rangers4 Hearts3 FLAWED genius he may be, but without the dusting of magic which Paul Gascoigne can bring in the game's big occasions, Rangers might have lost this Coca-Cola Cup final at Parkhead yesterday.
Two minutes in the second half when the game appeared to be moving away from the Ibrox men found Gascoigne at his finest.
He scored twice, in 63 and 65 minutes, and even the bravehearts from Tynecastle recognised that there was no way back.
To their credit, they did not give up.
They fought on, and they did get one goal back in the closing minute.
But just as it was Brian Laudrup who destroyed them in the Scottish Cup final in May, yesterday it was Rangers' other major star, Gascoigne, who ended their dreams on a sodden afternoon in the East End of Glasgow when the first showpiece of the season flirted with postponement.
An hour before the kick-off, Parkhead was inspected but then passed playable, a decision which eventually proved correct.
Inside 26 minutes, the nightmare scenario that so many at Tynecastle had feared looked to be taking place.
In just 10 minutes, Laudrup had moved clear of a challenge, sent the ball on to Gascoigne, who then found Ally McCoist.
His finishing shot came straight from the strikers' handbook, leaving Gilles Rousset with no chance.
Sixteen minutes later, it happened again - only this time there was not so much skill involved in carving out the goal.
Instead, it was down to dreadful defending inside the Hearts penalty box.
Rousset had saved from McCoist, pushing the ball for a corner, but as he congratulated himself on the stop, Jorg Albertz swung the ball in from the flag kick.
Gordan Petric reached it first and headed it on.
Craig Moore reached it next, and touched it beyond the Hearts defenders once more and there was McCoist to finish, and Hearts found themselves two goals behind from a set piece that they had failed to defend properly.
It seemed, then, to be all over.
Rangers were in control and then, approaching half time they appeared to decide to take a break -and that was a major mistake.
Hearts came back and before half time, Steve Fulton had scored after Rangers had failed to clear the menace of a corner from Neil McCann on the left.
It was McCann, the young winger Rangers could not tame yesterday, who brought another goal for the Edinburgh side to crown a period of domination they enjoyed after half time.
He went past Craig Moore, who had gone to right back after David Robertson replaced Alex Cleland at the start of the second half.
He continued past a challenge by Petric, and the cross he cut into goal found John Robertson, who steered a shot past Andy Goram.
Remarkably Hearts were level, and deservedly so.
Then came Gascoigne's double contribution.
In 63 minutes, he pounced on a loose ball, and as the Hearts defenders appeared to hesitate, he jinked his way into space, looked up, glimpsed goal, and directed a shot from 25 yards just inside Rousset's left hand post.
Rangers were back in front and Gascoigne decided they should move further ahead.
Within two minutes, he played a one-two with young Charlie Miller before finishing off with another shot which Rousset could not hope to stop.
Rangers had further chances, but so, too, did Hearts.
A minute from the end, a free kick from McCann was flighted into goal and David Weir glanced a header past Goram from the six-yard line to give his team at least the respectability they craved on the day.
Now Rangers aim for the domestic treble that is their ambition this season.
There were moments yesterday when they creaked a little, moments when Hearts were given encouragement for their efforts.
But, always, Rangers have the special skills of Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup, and the still potent finishing of that Peter Pan of Ibrox, Ally McCoist.
For some yesterday this was a new experience, to win a Coca-Cola Cup medal, but for Richard Gough, and for McCoist this was another to add to their collection.
Rangers collected bookings for Brian Laudrup, Gordan Petric, Charlie Miller, Craig Moore and Joachim Bjorklund.
Hearts had fewer in a seven goal thriller which must have delighted the sponsors and the television viewers at home.
Only Pasquale Bruno was cautioned for the Edinburgh side, whose fans in the 48,559 crowd remained behind to acclaim the courage of their players.
But, just when are these loyal supporters to be rewarded., just when are Hearts going to end their trophy jinx, just when is that fabled open-topped bus to reappear in the streets of Edinburgh? No-one knows.
HOW THEY PLAYED RANGERS ANDY GORAM: Another marvellous display from a man who can claim to be the best goalkeeper in Europe.
He made two marvellous saves when Hearts were on the ascendent.
Rating: 8.
ALEX CLELAND: Never really came to terms with McCann on the wing and went off at half-time with a groin injury.
Rating: 5.
CRAIG MOORE: Took over from Cleland in marking McCann, and like his team-mate, he simply could not cope with the Hearts winger.
Rating: 5.
DAVID ROBERTSON: (Substitute for Cleland at half-time.) Gave Rangers an attacking option when he came on at half-time, but defensively had a poor game.
Colin Cameron gave him a roasting.
Rating: 5.
RICHARD GOUGH: An "average" game for Gough - as usual, he was inspiring.
Kept Rangers together when Hearts looked like over-running them.
Rating: 8.
GORDAN PETRIC: Solid in most of what he did, although he looked uncomfortable when John Robertson ran at him.
Rating: 7.
JOACHIM BJORKLUND: Little was seen of Bjorklund during the game, but he was a quietly effective marker.
Rating: 7.
CHARLES MILLER: Anonymous for most of the match, although he did assist with Gascoigne's second goal.
Rating: 6.
PAUL GASCOIGNE: Failed to impose himself on most of the match, but when Rangers needed a match-winner, he was there to take on the role.
Two excellent goals.
Rating: 8.
ALLY McCOIST: Another great comeback from a man who continues to defy his years.
Both goals were vintage McCoist.
Rating: 8.
JORG ALBERTZ: An unspectacular performance, but he worked hard.
Did well in creating space on the left for Laudrup.
Rating: 7.
BRIAN LAUDRUP: Created Rangers' first goal, and at times he was just too good for Hearts to handle.
Rating: 8.
HEARTS GILLES ROUSSET: He may have conceded four goals but this was a much better display than his nightmare in May.
Rating: 7.
DAVID WEIR: Given the difficult task of marking Laudrup, he performed well.
His goal at the end typified Hearts' fighting spirit.
Rating: 7.
NEIL POINTON: Brought experience to the Hearts defence and his long balls fed McCann well.
Rating: 7.
GARY MACKAY: An inspiring captain for Hearts.
Mackay led his team with dignity and ran himself into the ground.
Rating: 7.
PAUL RITCHIE: Played his part in a solid looking Hearts defence.
Was undone by the mistakes of his defensive partner and the brilliance of Gascoigne.
Rating: 7.
PASQUALE BRUNO: Was at fault at both Rangers goals in the first half.
His marking was dreadful.
Rating: 4.
STEPHANE PAILLE: Did not pose the threat to Rangers that he has to other teams in the cup run.
Rating: 6.
DARREN BECKFORD: (substitute for Paille after 76 minutes.) Came on too late to make a real impact on the match.
Rating: 4.
STEVE FULTON: He took his goal magnificently and changed the course of the match.
Faded as the second half wore on.
Rating: 6.
JOHN ROBERTSON: Another of Hearts' old campaigners who played like a man 10 years younger.
Always threatened to score and took his goal well.
Rating: 8.
COLIN CAMERON: His performance deserved another winners' medal, after his success at Raith.
Gave Rangers a problem on the right that they never managed to counter.
Rating: 8.
NEIL McCANN: Deservedly named Man of the Match.
Had an outstanding game on the left wing.
Testimony to that is that at one point Rangers had three men marking him.
Rating: 9.
Taken from the Herald
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