Rangers shell-shocked by Hearts

No debate about the match of the weekend in the SPL. While the rest of the results favoured the punter by coming in broadly as predicted, Hearts 4-2 humiliation of the would-be contenders would have destroyed their hopes of a payout. Even at tempting odds of 4-1, few would have put money on a Hearts win.

The real surprise performance was from the home side. Hearts, uniquely, had managed to attract critical headlines even during the international break, with those not called up for their countries packed off for a training camp in Lithuania, at the same time that Lithuania were playing Scotland at Hampden. Yet they tore out of the blocks, establishing a 2-0 lead before Rangers had got into the game.

The visitors were poor, though. Walter Smith elected to leave Barry Ferguson on the bench, but David Weir, who probably needed a rest, had to play - somehow, he and Cuellar were the only fit centre backs, despite Rangers having a wealth of options in this position. And why no Steven Naismith? He would have relished this big fixture early in his Rangers' career. Pretty toothless up front, at the back Cuellar had a nightmare, and Alan Hutton relapsed to old form with an erratic display.

Probably not the result they wanted ahead of their Champions League game against Stuttgart on Wednesday night, but then again, the real work in Europe has already been done this season. Having secured a spot in the lucrative group stages, Rangers probably don't much care what happens in Europe now. Winning the SPL is everything for the Ibrox club... but on this showing, the title is some way off.


Results and table: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/default.stm