Mail Online

Jack comes up trumps but what happened to Hearts?

By Gary Keown AT HAMPDEN

RYAN JACK was just showing off, wasn’t he? Just flexing. Rubbing salt into the wound, really. Ninety-four minutes into a game in which Rangers had confounded all expectations by dipping into reserves of staying power that would put a Grand National winner to shame, there he was. Spanking the ball into the net off the crossbar to put the light-blue ribbons on the cup and off, fresh as a daisy, sprinting full-pelt like a thoroughbred flat horse, all the way back the length of the park to the Rangers end, badge on the shirt between his teeth, to celebrate.

It was almost like one final show of strength. All over Europe over the past few months, in their fourth cup tie to enter extra-time in five weeks, handling the crushing disappointment of a Europa League final loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in boiling temperatures in the south of Spain a few days earlier.

And, yet, still bursting with energy when taken into the trenches again. At a time when Hearts, who should have been fresher, could barely raise a gallop.

In truth, it is astonishing that this game went to extra-time. Quite how Craig Gordon saved from Joe Aribo with his outstretched left foot in time added-on at the end of the 90 minutes is a mystery.

Quite how referee Willie Collum failed to award a penalty when Nathaniel Atkinson tugged Aribo’s shirt before he pulled the trigger equally confusing.

Not half as confusing, though, as the way this game worked out in the end. If anyone can properly explain what happened to Robbie Neilson’s men, please send some answers in on a postcard.

If one searing question is just how Rangers have managed to attain these fantastic levels of fitness — always looking the stronger side as big games go into 120 minutes — someone at Tynecastle ought to be asking why this fell so flat.

When up against football’s equivalent of 11 Duracell Bunnies, you can’t turn up having forgotten to put your own batteries in. Yet, Hearts just malfunctioned completely after half-time. It was bizarre. Hard to describe. It looked like they had nine men on the park or something.

They couldn’t put passes together. Could barely get over the halfway line at times, far

less muster a shot on goal; spent more or less the whole of the remainder of the game penned in; left big Ellis Simms, who hit the post within the first 10 minutes after getting on to a Boyce cross at the back post, more and more isolated up front as the match wore on.

To the untrained eye, you’d have sworn they had been the side put through the wringer in midweek.

Sure, they played both John Souttar and Craig Halkett, back in the starting line-up after overcoming injury, but that was hardly the reason for their defeat.

Souttar, Rangers-bound in the summer, of course, was largely excellent over the 90 minutes. Only Gordon, who made three brilliant saves to keep the game goalless at the end of regulation time, was better for the Gorgie side.

Even in the latter stages, Souttar was standing firm, fighting for everything. In 84 minutes, a welltimed elbow into Leon Balogun’s midriff surely stopped the Nigerian internationalist from heading the ball into the net from James Tavernier’s corner rather than under the bar.

Moments later, he threw himself in front of a John Lundstram thunderbolt, then denied Calvin Bassey before Collum blew for time. Providing he stays fit, Souttar should be a fine addition to the Rangers squad.

It was from middle-to-front where Hearts failed badly, though. Barrie McKay, their main creative force, went off 10 minutes from time, having fallen out of the game completely.

Boyce had already made way for Andy Halliday by then, never really looking as though he had recovered fully from the groin injury sustained last weekend against the same opponents.

The right team won, no doubt.

And the game was dead the moment Jack scored. There was no way Hearts were going to score. Indeed, it came as no surprise when Scott Wright made it 2-0 shortly afterwards.

And no surprise when he embarked upon a little sprint to the touchline himself, to kick off a jubilant huddle involving boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

From that stage onwards, it was always going to be about the festivities and the farewells ahead of a summer sure to bring about a huge amount of change at Ibrox.

After everything they have been through over the course of this gruelling, rollercoaster 65-game season, there was no question of the playing or coaching staff not having the energy to make the very most of those. Aribo, Ryan

Kent, Glen Kamara and

Bassey kept their street cred topped up to the max by taking the trophy straight to the Union Bears ultras behind the goal to pose for photos.

The likes of Scott Arfield, Fashion Sakala and Aaron Ramsey made the most of posing for photos with their families. Steven Davis made the most of it, too. On the basis of the Europa

League final and this affair, there may yet be a case for handing the 37-year-old midfielder one final 12-month deal. Whether that happens or not, he was a man eager to soak up every moment of the post-match celebrations.

Centre of attention, though, was undoubtedly Allan McGregor. The veteran goalkeeper was kept on the bench until the last minute of extra-time, taking the field to a rapturous — and emotional — ovation from the Rangers support.

It is hard to think he won’t announce his retirement shortly. The time just seems right for him to bow out on a high after such a momentous campaign.

He was last down from the Hampden stand with the Scottish Cup in his hands and bore the broadest of smiles as he walked round the field on a lap of honour.

He might be thinking about stopping. One thing is for sure, though. Most of the guys who have represented Rangers this season look like they can run and run and run.

Scottish Cup Final

en-gb

2022-05-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/284807879682162

dmg media (UK)