Jefferies ends the Heart-ache

IT WAS a long time in coming, 42 years to be exact - Hearts, Scottish Cup winners.

A day to savour, maybe even a week, perhaps a lifetime, given the allergy the Jambos developed to this competition.

Hearts collected their first trophy since 1962 after beating Rangers, who came close to extending this match by another half hour, but only because they started to play when everything seemed lost.

On other such days, Rangers have played poorer and won.

Likewise, this season, Hearts have performed better but failed to overcome the usually victorious Ibrox club.

Saturday though was different.

If you keep getting to finals, sooner or later, you'll get it right.

Jim Jefferies, Scotland's Manager of the Year, got his tactics spot on.

While his offence had carried Hearts to the brink of a League title, and this cup final, Jefferies built his game plan around containment, making it virtually impossible even for Rangers' most threatening men to break them down.

That probably tipped the balance in favour of the boys in maroon, or white as was the case.

And before I go any further, can anyone tell me why Hearts were forced to wear their change strip?

White or otherwise, Rangers were left feeling blue thanks, in no small measure, to a man in black, well, green to be exact.

What a pity on Hearts' big day that most post-match discussions centred on the decisions of referee Willie Young.

He was asked to give two key verdicts.

If you hail from the east, he got them right.

The Glasgow contingent, however, would give the Clarkston whistler nothing out of two.

Rangers idol Derek Johnstone has dined out for years on how he scored before kick-off time, his 1976 cup- final opener, ironically against Hearts, coming a few minutes before three bells.

On Saturday, Mr Young was a wee touch hasty in getting proceedings started, before the big hand had reached the 12, but within 33 seconds he'd sounded his whistle again and pointed to the penalty spot.

Some sympathy goes to the man who has to make his mind up in an instant, without action replays for help.

When Ian Ferguson caught Stevie Fulton as the Hearts skipper for the day skipped between the Gers midfielder and Sergio Porrini, the tackle was made outside the area.

But, a penalty was given, not that Rangers protested too much about the award.

Still, it was an error on Young's part.

Then with four minutes to go, Ally McCoist was clipped by David Weir as he broke into the Hearts area.

A penalty? Most thought so, definitely McCoist, and Weir blushed afterwards when asked for his opinion.

Weir was, in effect, the last man as well when he made his challenge but that was immaterial.

The only thing consistent about Young was his inconsistency.

McCoist's appeal was as good and as deserved as Fulton's had been.

Young, though, gave a free-kick, denying Rangers the chance of a dramatic equaliser.

Controversial, most certainly.

In hindsight, either both incidents should have resulted in penalties, or neither.

By that stage, however, Rangers were clutching at straws.

They could see the opposition ribbons being tied to the Cup.

Hearts didn't have to play too well to win this game.

Sure, they got off to a flyer when Colin Cameron's first touch was his spot kick high into the rigging, wrong footing Andy Goram.

But for most of this game, Hearts were limited to sporadic raids, with the likes of Neil McCann, Thomas Flogel, Fulton, Cameron and Stephane Adam showing up only in flashes.

The Frenchman who arrived without a penny, franc or even an Ecu, latched on to one half-chance to shoot Hearts into what seemed an unassailable lead after 52 minutes.

Gilles Rousset, the Hearts keeper, pumped the ball long down field, an aimless pass which should have been easily dealt with by the normally- assured Lorenzo Amoruso.

For once, however, the big Italian slipped up, enabling Adam to gather possession and advance, before striking an angled shot, which although Goram touched, he could only redirect into the corner of his goal.

The trophy, there and then, looked bound for Gorgie Road.

Rangers were two goals down, having never really looked like prising open a tight, well-drilled Hearts back line.

Brian Laudrup, in his final match in a blue shirt north of the Border, looked hungry, eager to make this a memorable finale.

The Dane, who ran, tackled back and went looking for the ball, was short of assistance.

Gordon Durie and he struggled to link, while the Rangers midfield trio of Stuart McCall, Rino Gattuso and Ian Ferguson were all much of a muchness; combative rather than constructive.

Laudrup was missing someone to play off, namely Jorg Albertz, the enormity of his act of folly at Tannadice the previous week now being realised.

Not surprisingly, it was Laudrup who came closest to restoring parity in the first half, when with the seconds running out, he made full use of Sergio Porrini's endeavour to strike the post with a low, almost weak- looking shot.

Rangers were stale in the first half.

Walter Smith had operated with a 4-4-2 system to drag Rangers back into the title race.

Here, he had an almost safety-first approach with five strung across the back, apparently more concerned with stopping Hearts playing than being positive.

However,the Gers were livened up after the restart when Ally McCoist was introduced in place of Stale Stensaas, who, once again, appeared completely out of his depth.

McCoist and Rangers needed a miracle when Adam doubled the Jambos advantage.

And carrying as many passengers as they did, the odds were stacked against a Rangers comeback.

Those odds would have been only marginally lessened had Rangers been on their game, for Hearts in defence were outstanding.

And the more Rangers pressed, desperate to avoid their first barren season in 12, the better the Tynecastle stoppers worked.

David Weir and Paul Ritchie, the former who will go to the World Cup and the latter whose international chance is bound to come soon, were outstanding.

When they were beaten, Gilles Rousset, who laid the ghost of Hampden'96 to rest, was on hand to assist.

In 63 minutes, a Durie long throw deflected off the head of Weir and fell for McCoist, whose snapshot forced a great point-blank stop out of the lanky Frenchman.

The pre-match favourites had become desperate.

Amoruso, not short of power but lacking precision, banged another free-kick high and wide.

McCoist fired over after central defender Richard Gough, converted to centre-forward, had harassed his Hearts counterparts.

Then Laudrup attempted a diving header just a few yards out, throwing himself at a ball which didn't bounce to squander another opening.

Having fired blanks, Rangers were shot back into this tie with nine minutes remaining.

Porrini charged forward, connected with Gattuso whose pass cut through the Hearts defence, enabling Ally McCoist to drive a low, first-time shot past Rousset.

Were you watching Craig Brown?

The goal sparked hope amongst the Rangers players and their followers, and tension throughout those from the capital.

Jim Jefferies bounced around on the touchline as Rangers launched wave upon wave towards the Hearts goal.

The Hearts boss looked skyward as his men survived the McCoist penalty claim, and another when Dave McPherson, a previous winner with Rangers, climbed all over the hitman.

It was all getting too much for Jefferies.

Surely, having come this close he wasn't now going to be denied his moment of glory.

Events on the field were also pushing emotions to the limit.

Ritchie, who has managed to catch Gattuso's head with his studs in a previous engagement, left his boot in when challenged by McCoist, an act which earned the young defender a verbal volley from the finger-pointing veteran.

Their feud raged into injury time as Durie hoofed the ball again towards the Hearts area, Laudrup's touch-on falling perfectly for Porrini.

But as the former Juventus star set himself for the shot, ex-Falkirk man Weir slid in with a saving challenge.

Again, it was too much for his manager, Jefferies smothering his face in his hands, then clawing at his hair as he watched his men survive another attack.

While his eyes could hardly believe what was occurring during those dying seconds, the sound of Willie Young's whistle registered immediately with the Hearts manager, who leapt on to the field in celebration.

Jefferies had turned the Jam Tarts into winners again and the long wait was over.

It's fair to suggest that in the future, although Gorgie boys and lassies will hope it isn't 40-odd years, people will look back on Saturday and recall the names of Hearts' heroes.

And what was the name of that referee?

How they rated: Hearts

GILLES ROUSSET

No repeat of his horror show two years ago.

Controlled the penalty box and solid under the high ball, pulling off a match-clinching save from Ally McCoist late on as well as a great stop from a Lorenzo Amoruso free-kick.

8

DAVE McPHERSON

Bags of experience and it showed despite playing out of position at right-back, where he proved himself with Rangers a few seasons ago.

He kept the shackles on Brian Laudrup for much of the match.

8

GARY NAYSMITH

Quiet start but made up for it with some surging runs up the flank.

His speed allowed him to make some important cover tackles.

8

DAVID WEIR

Outstanding game again, fully justifying his World Cup selection but lucky not to have cost Jeff's men dear with a clumsy challenge on McCoist.

Faultless apart from that.

8

STEFANO SALVATORI

Struggled to make an impact in first 45 minutes but made more of an impression after the interval.

Made his tackles count and kept tabs on Rino Gattuso.

7

PAUL RITCHIE

Youngster came of age with faultless display.

Never any danger of hat-trick hero Gordon Durie doing it again.

Tackled all day, rarely exposed and dealt with Richard Gough's aerial threat.

Lucky not to make McCoist see red by going over the top near the end.

9

NEIL McCANN

Not at his best.

Rarely got the better of Sergio Porrini and though he was unlucky with a couple of decisions when he was fouled, he spent more time on the turf than on his feet.

There wasn't much to argue abouwhen he was booked for diving early on.

6

STEVE FULTON

Put everything into the game but became too involved with petty feuds with Gattuso and Ian Ferguson to help Hearts gain control in the midfield area.

Playing deeper than normal, didn't pose his normal goal threat though won the all-important penalty with a storming run.

7

STEPHANE ADAM

Not afraid to put himself about, did more than Hearts' other front men and always looked dangerous.

Not too many clear-cut chances but when one came along, wrote his name in the history books by grabbing the winner which even Andy Goram couldn't keep out.

8

COLIN CAMERON

Grafted throughout but didn't make the contribution Hearts fans could have expected.

Showed plenty of guts to stick away the crucial penalty after just two minutes.

It was make or break for Hearts even then and a miss would have spelled disaster.

7

THOMAS FLOGEL

Full of running but definitely not his best display.

Like Adam not afraid to get involved and did better defensively than going forward.

7

JIM HAMILTON (Sub)

Same story as Flogel, did most of his best work in his own box.

Only on for the last 11 minutes but as Rangers turned the screw got up well to clear Hearts' lines on more than one occasion.

7

Subs not used: Grant

Murray, John Robertson.

How they rated: Rangers

ANDY GORAM

First job was to pick the ball out of the net after the penalty but recovered well and it was a long while before he was employed again.

Made a couple of other good stops at crucial points in the match.

7

SERGIO PORRINI

Moved into right wing-back slot and did a good job marking Neil McCann.

But wasn't the influence you would expect from a player of his credentials.

7

STALE STENSAAS

The fact that he was hauled off at half-time tells its own story.

Did work a couple of one-twos with Laudrup and shot just wide but not in the same class as previous incumbents of the No.3 jersey.

5

RICHARD GOUGH

Didn't pose as much of a threat at set-pieces as normal.

Did his best to lift his troops for one final rally but unable to recapture past glories.

8

LORENZO AMORUSO

Caught out for the second goal but, apart from that, he oozed class at the back and handled the occasion better than most.

8

JOACHIM BJORKLUND

Fast and fairly solid in the tackle, covered well for Stensaas but was prone to concentration lapses.

6

RINO GATTUSO

A typical whole-hearted display but failed to open up the midfield and temper threatened to boil over.

7

IAN FERGUSON

No shortage of guts or effort and kept Fulton and Cameron in check but didn't pose as much of a threat to the Hearts defence.

6

GORDON DURIE

Snap.

Bagged three in the '96 final against the Jambos, Gers fans were expecting more of the same but failed to deliver.

6

STUART McCALL

Replaced with 22 minutes to go, McCall ran himself into the ground.

Did most damage early on but in common with the rest of the Gers midfield, things didn't click, though he tackled like a demon throughout.

7

BRIAN LAUDRUP

Some tantalising runs and a few flashes of the genius he is capable of.

Gave it his best shot but like the rest of the season, the magic of previous years has worn thin.

Unlucky not to have turned the game when he hit the woodwork.

7

ALLY McCOIST (Sub)

Did his job and got on the scoresheet for the last time of his Ibrox career.

Made an immediate impact when he replaced Stensaas for the second half.

Warmed up with a couple of half-chances before providing a ray of hope with a trademark finish.

Had more time than he thought with another volley that sailed over the bar.

At least he was there to miss.

For once, more snarls than smiles as he battled with Ritchie.

But like the rest of the Gers, behaved sportingly and kept his composure at the end despite being accosted by a Hearts fan.

9

IAN DURRANT (Sub)

Final 22 minutes in a Light Blue jersey meant he didn't have a lot of time to make an impact but showed a couple of nice touches as he tried to unlock the Jambos' defence.

Lost his record of wins in every cup final he's played in, but like the rest of th e old guard, he can go out with his head held high.

7

SUB NOT USED: CRAIG MOORE