Hearts 3 (Elliot 2 {11, 55), Strickland (49 Pen)
Rangers 0
The Ibrox youngsters were minus no fewer than eight
first-choice players for the title decider, six
through injury, Charlie Adam through suspension and
inexplicably Ross McCormack left out presumably
because he will be a substitute at Celtic Park on
Saturday.
Such management decisions, including the wholesale
fielding of the Under-19 side in the SPL Under-21
League, have left the Light Blue colts exhausted and
facing burnout.
Defensive errors cost Rangers dear against opponents
who were physically bigger and stronger. The
commitment and determination of the Tynecastle
youngsters was perhaps a surprise, given that they
were abused and physically attacked by Celtic players
and spectators alike at the conclusion of a recent
League fixture at Barrowfield - a crucial game in the
title race during which Hearts were denied no fewer
than three stonewall penalties.
The opening goal arrived in eleven minutes when two
Gary McKenzie errors allowed Callum Elliott to net,
despite the valiant effort of ‘Gers goalkeeper Lee
Robinson.
Rangers seldom threatened the home goal, and fell
further behind in 49 minutes when handball by Jordan
McMillan allowed Colin Strickland (son of former
Ranger Derek) to put his side two up from the penalty
spot.
Six minutes later it was all over when Fraser Coyle
(struggling with a first-minute injury) failed to
intercept a through-ball, allowing Elliott to bury the
ball, and with it ‘Gers title hopes, behind Robinson.
It was clear throughout that the Ibrox youngsters are
suffering from sheer physical exhaustion, due to
management blunders that may well cost not just this
season’s youth title, but also any chance of
progressing to the first-team due to burnout, given
the huge number of games they have played.
It remains to be seen whether they can produce one
final effort in next Monday’s Youth Cup Final against
Kilmarnock.
Meanwhile Celtic can clinch the title with a draw
against Aberdeen at Barrowfield on Friday.
HEARTS Windrum; Thomson, Tierney; Sives, Berra, Neill
(Gardiner 72); Driver (Kennedy 72), Murtagh,
Strickland, Elliott, Pelosi (Armstrong 80)
UNUSED SUBS Wallace, MacDonald
RANGERS Robinson; Jacmot, Coyle (Fraser 68); Watson,
McKenzie, McMillan; Gilmour (Johnston 45), Dick,
Davidson, Kalenga, Fetai
UNUSED SUBS Agnew, Reidford, Lennon