29th July 2007 - SPL Match day - Rangers 2-0 Hearts
Line-Up - 13. Craig Gordon (GK), 20. Alan Hutton, 26. Steven Smith, 19. Karl Svensson, 2. Andy Webster, 10. Nacho Novo (Naismith 46), 25. Charlie Adam (Murray 86), 8. Kevin Thomson, 6. Barry Ferguson ©, 15. Kris Boyd (Stevenson), 4. David Healy The game kicked-off at a sunny Ibrox with both teams looking up for the win. Surprise inclusion David Healy (who only signed late last night) started off well. Rangers’ Kris Boyd should have opened the scoring after only five minutes when he was through on goal but he completely miss-kicked the ball and it went over. Rangers’ tried and tried but could not create any openings. The only thing debutant ’keeper Craig Gordon had to do was make a brilliant save from a shot by former team-mate Roman Bednar. At half-time Walter Smith brought on Steven Naismith for Nacho Novo. The second-half started with very few chances but a piece of magic from Kris Boyd as he picked the ball up at the halfway line, beat two men and then passed the ball past Kurskis in the Hearts goal to give Rangers the lead. Rangers continued to exert their dominance and when Alan Hutton played in David Healy there was surely only one outcome. A debut goal for Healy meant that Rangers could breathe a little easier being two goals in front. Walter Smith then brought on Lewis Stevenson for Kris Boyd to sure up the result. An injury to Charlie Adam with only a few minutes left was worrying for Rangers and they had to bring on Ian Murray. Craig Gordon did not let his clean sheet slip in the closing moments as he had to make a brilliant double save to deny Hearts.
HT 0-0
