Hearts underline title credentials

22 January 2011 19:08
Ryan Stevenson grabbed the only goal of the game as Hearts continued their bid to be taken seriously as title contenders with a 1-0 win over Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. The win allowed the Jambos to move to within two points of the Scottish champions and strengthen their case for a three-way fight for the championship, or to at least split the Old Firm this season. Lafferty had another chance for Rangers when he collected from Maurice Edu but connected awkwardly and his tame effort was easily gathered by Kello. Rangers still looked dangerous and Naismith slipped a lovely pass to Jamie Ness in plenty of space and the youngster forced a decent save from Kello, before seeing a swerving effort tipped just wide of the far post seconds later. But it was Hearts who opened the scoring after 77 minutes. Skacel went to ground in the box under pressure from Ness but there was no penalty as play raged on in the packed goalmouth. Skacel picked himself up to have a half-shot on goal which was forced into the back of the net by Stevenson from close-range.

Source: PA