WEEK 1

Spectacle for Celtic

Championship favourites Rangers crashed to a opening game defeat at Tynecastle
against a Hearts side determined to show that last season`s good form was no
fluke.
The opening 45 minutes was just what the armchair fan ordered with three goals
and a number of other chances at both ends. Early on the fragility of the
visiting defensive was clear for all to see and they went behind on six
minutes when young Neil McCann cross found them flat-footed and Stephane Adam
controlled it and prodded home past Niemi. Shortly it was 2-0 and even worse
from Rangers viewpoint as Jonas Thern was caught in possesion on the edge of
his own area and Jim Hamilton collected the loose ball and smashed past the
Finnish keeper into the far corner. Rangers got back into it when a mis-hit
shot by Van Bronckhurst was going wide only for Rod Wallace to latch onto it
and fire past the helpless Rousett for a debut goal. Rangers could have
levelled it, Wallace had a good opportunity and late on Van Bronckhurst`s shot
fizzed inches wide of the post. Rangers did everything but score in the second
half, Wallace had three half chances, Durie shot just wide as did Ian Ferguson
with a curling effort. Rousett saved well from Durie and from a piledriver by
Albertz but they simply could not get the equaliser. Overall a fine game and
although it`s obvious that the new signings and multi-nationals at Rangers
haven`t clicked together yet, when they do, then they`ll be a force to be
reckoned with once again.

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