MAROON MARAUDERS

Jiving Jambos jettison Rangers as historic title nears.

"The way the players dug that out, the result, second half - magnificent.”

It’s been sixty-six long years since Heart of Midlothian have won the top division title in Scotland. Generations of faithful Jambo support have stood in Tynecstle Park, watching on as Glasgow’s giants continued to hoard silverware. Granted, the 80’s saw an occassional spice of life, with Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen and the Dundee United sides of Jim McLean upsetting the national duopoly.

Granted, it might be best we don’t visit that period of time for Hearts. They’ve stood on the precipice of glory before, all for it to go very, very wrong. May 3rd, 1986. Hearts needed all but a point to secure the top prize on a nerve jangling final day. By halftime, their tital rivals in Celtic were butchering St Mirren. It had become crystal clear that there would be no additional help from elsewhere. The Jambos had destiny in their own hands. Just avoid defeat. Yet, with seven minutes left on the clock, the away fans who had travelled to Dens Park fell brutally silent. Albert Kidd scored for Dundee. Then Albert Kidd ran the pitch and scored again. A name that, to this day, sends shivers down the back of every man in Gorgie.

It might be best summarised in the words of Hearts’ centre forward Sandy Clark: “At the time it honestly felt like losing a loved one.”

This year, there can be no exact replication. With Dundee consigned to the bottom six in post-split fixturing, Hearts need not worry about any renewing of trauma with a trip to the city of discovery. After overcoming rivals Hibernian last week, the Tynecastle squad could path their road to victory very clearly. With four to play, three wins followed by a final day draw at Celtic Park would be enough to raise the trophy aloft come the end of May. That journey to immortality continued on a clear spring evening, with a Monday matchup against the blue side of Glasgow.

Rangers would enter into this game a wounded animal. Sunday past, Ibrox bore witness to a shock last minute loss. While opponents Motherwell have had a wonderful season under the management of Jens Berthel Askou, it was not a game Rangers would have expected, nor could afford to lose. Add to this Celtic’s win a day prior, and Danny Rohl’s outfit now knew that any slip up in Edinburgh would be fatal. With Tynecastle packed to the rafters, Colin Chisholm took centre stage to rev up the crowd. Hearts’ Song was belted out with a racuous support following every word. This crucial clash was but minutes from kick-off and such a stirring anthem galvanised the battle fever.

Into the breach and Hearts were…well, a bit flat in all honesty. Where one had hoped that this would be an early fireworks show, it appeared the home side were a little cagey. Rangers, no doubt wanting to avoid a repeat of last week, appeared comfortable to maintain large swathes of possession. Looking to execute at set pieces, Craig Halkett and Tochi Chukwuani traded solid headed opportunities for the sides, but neither could place their respective effort on target.

Midway through the first fourty-five and our deadlock was eventually broken by the expected means of production. Gers captain James Tavenier bulleted in a flat throw and, in an failed attemept to clear, was flicked on by Stuart Findlay. The ball landed at the feet of Dujon Sterling, an increasingly used utility man who found himself operating as an overlapping left back today. Such versality was to benefit the away side, as his advanced positioning in Hearts’ box allowed for a placed volley. Deflecting off the calf of Michael Steinwender, the ball bounced into the turf before rising to spin over the gloves of a helpless Alexander Schwolow.

Whatever was said in the interval by manager Derek McInnes made a difference. Last week’s hero in Blair Spittal was brought on as a substitute for Islam Chesnokov. Suddenly the momentum started to shift, as Hearts showed an increased verve and hunger. Aggressive in fifty-fifty tackles and recovery of loose balls, the home side were carried forward by a reinvigerated Tynecastle. Rangers, who have been criticised for failing to put a ninety minute performance together throughout this season, began to falter again.

Breaking into the box, Alexandros Kyziridis collected a pass and used the overlapping Spittal as his decoy. Shifting left, the Greek curled a shot off the foot of the post with Jack Butland stationary. It ricocheted out to an unnmarked Stephen Kingsley, who stabbed the ball home for an equaliser. Tavenier, who himself may have been accused of ball watching, had but seconds ago called for Andreas Skov Olsen to pick up his man. This request had clearly been ignored. Rangers’ frailities were once again exposed.

The thunder of those positioned around Tynecastle could now be felt from all angles and it was evident that Hearts’ players fed off of such surging energy. They say blood doesn’t show on a maroon shirt, but it was certianly pumping through the veins of those wearing them. Hearts went for the jugular as Rangers dropped back time and time again, the stadium sensing that swelling pressure would soon pay dividends.

Goalscorer Kingsley would soon turn provider, as a great piece of interplay down the left flank birthed a drilled cross. Peeling away from Emmanuel Fernandez, Lawrence Shankland strode onto the pass infront of a turning Nicolas Raskin. The shot was struck with pace and venom, flashing by an outstretched Butland. Hearts’ captain has scored many an important goal this league season, but this might just top the lot. In attendance? National team boss Steve Clarke. A man who will once again have to think about his starting number nine come Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti. If Shankland can anchor home a league title for the boys in maroon, it might just be him.

At that moment in time the eruption of noise inside Tynecastle might well have shattered glass windows across Edinburgh, a maroon echolocation vanquishing the ghosts of tragedies past. Jambo joy swirled around the stadium as the fanbase looked to roar their team home. However, winning a big game, let alone a title, is never easy. Even if Rangers were off the boil, they still had the potential to strike. A deep Tavenier cross was punched out by Schwolow, but only as far as newly introduced Thelo Aasgaard. His planted header contacted the crossbar before being hacked clear.

As much as the club from Govan huffed and puffed, Hearts stood strong. Referee John Beaton called for an additional seven minutes, and while an angst many have swarmed many in the stands, the same could not be said for those on the pitch. Late victories against Hibs and Motherwell, plus a battling draw with Livingston had built them for this moment. McInnes cut a composed figure in the dugout, full faith in his side to navigate the closing stages. When the final whsitle blew, his assurance had been well placed.

While the old cliche of one game at a time is the responsible stance, you wouldn’t blame the Hearts support for believing that this dream will come true. The list reads; Motherwell, Falkirk, Celtic. Seven points from nine will seal the deal.

The talk of the nation, let alone the toon…are the boys in maroon.

Full time, Heart of Midlothian 2-1 Rangers.

MAROON MARAUDERS

Jiving Jambos jettison Rangers as historic title nears.

ANOTHER TANGO IN PARIS