Rangers Reserves

[ian1964 10,720]

By Andrew Dickson

 

RANGERS' 100% record in the SPL Reserve League came to an end this afternoon as they drew 0-0 with Hearts at Murray Park.

 

Tommy Wilson's men were the better side, particularly after the interval, but couldn't convert any of the chances that came their way.

 

Failing to break the deadlock means they've now taken four points from their first two matches after the 5-0 win against Falkirk a fortnight ago.

 

The first half was a fairly even affair, with Gers shading it for the extra possession they enjoyed.

 

Things might have been different had William McLachlan seen a red card rather than the yellow he received for a late foul on Hearts' Branimir Kostadinov after just 90 seconds.

 

Indeed, it was a shaky start by the home side and Craig Sives should have headed the Jambos ahead with six minutes gone but somehow nodded wide from two yards.

 

Rangers hit back and Rory Loy, who scored a hat-trick against the Bairns, drove low at goal but saw his effort smothered.

 

John Fleck then skipped past two men as he cut across the 18-yard line and found the target too but also had his shot held.

 

Paul Emslie was proving to be influential for the Light Blues and he had a go himself but his rising drive was always flying over.

 

Hearts responded through Kostadinov and Jordan McMillan had to react sharply to block his teasing pass across goal.

 

Rangers continued to have more of the ball after the break but while Fleck almost struck at one end, Juho Makela should really have broken the deadlock at the other.

 

The best chance so far then fell to Spanish winger Aaron, who had experienced mixed fortunes in the opening period.

 

He showed the class that tempted Walter Smith to bring him to Ibrox on loan from Valencia when he burst in from the left past two men and curled just beyond the far post.

 

It was an opportunity he created from nothing and if he keeps producing like that, it won't be long before he is pushing for a first-team place.

 

Gers were getting closer and it seemed Loy had finally given them a lead with 25 minutes remaining after Fleck and Andrew Shinnie combined to play him in.

 

But just as his shot across Jamie MacDonald was sneaking inside the far post, the keeper stuck out a strong hand to divert the ball wide.

 

Loy saw a similar attempt trundle past the frame and with that, frustration started setting in.

 

Wilson threw on Giorgos Efrem and Andrew Little for Aaron and Loy in a bid to make his team's pressure finally count.

 

But they couldn't get themselves a lead and had to settle for a share of the spoils instead with their capital opponents.

 

RANGERS: Gallacher, Lowing, McLachlan, McMillan, Dailly, Emslie, Shinnie, Adam, Loy (Little 83), Fleck, Aaron (Efrem 68).

 

Substitutes: Robinson, Furman, Craig, Harvey.

 

HEARTS: MacDonald, Kelly (Thomson 67), Armstrong, Park, Sikes, McGowan, Kostadinov, Stewart (Copil 67), Makela, Wallace, Templeton.

 

Substitutes: Bjornsson, Balatoni, Mulrooney, Docherty, Mackie.

 

Referee: Ross Haswell.