| Rangers' Naismith breaks Hearts' comeback Few onlookers can deny Rangers merited this victory in Edinburgh. Yet it arrived late, and in acrimonious circumstances, in the most incident-packed game of the Scottish Premier League season to date.Steven Naismith was the defending champions' hero, with a 94th-minute winner that left Hearts shattered and maintained Rangers' flawless domestic record. It also upset the home fans to a potentially serious effect: Naismith's celebrations, as inflammatory as they were, prompted a needless barrage of missiles from the enclosure of Tynecastle's main stand.The assistant referee Willie Conquer, literally caught in the crossfire, was hit by a pound coin, a matter which will lead to an investigation from the Scottish Football Association and the SPL. Three lighters were also among the foreign items collected from the pitch after the dust had settled. This should, at least, dismiss the ridiculous notion that Hearts versus Rangers matches are friendly affairs.Hearts harboured a grievance over a free-kick given against their full-back Craig Thomson for a high challenge on Sasa Papac, which ultimately led to Naismith's goal. "From where I was, the legs of Craig and Sasa were at the same height," said the Hearts manager, Jim Jefferies. "We are the ones who were pulled up for it, and it cost us."Even if the hosts have a case with that, they switched off to a criminal extent in allowing the Rangers player to maraud 60 yards with the ball before he slotted home to win the match."I felt we got what we deserved," said Walter Smith, the Rangers manager. "We controlled most of the game and had, by far, the more attempts at goal."Hearts defended exceptionally well. Even when we did get through, their goalkeeper made some fine saves. There was a great deal of delight for us at the end but there would have been frustration if we hadn't won."The irony of Rangers' inability to break Hearts down earlier is that Jefferies has been beset by defensive woes all season. The Hearts manager has been left frustrated by an insistence from the club's hierarchy that he cannot select the captain and central defender Marius Zaliukas amid a contract dispute. Jefferies broke with tradition in adopting a 5-3-2 formation here. That system worked during an enthralling opening half, with Hearts opening the scoring. Rudi Skacel collected a Kevin Kyle flick-on and knocked the ball beyond Allan McGregor at the second attempt.Rangers' most meaningful response arrived from Nikica Jelavic, whose powerful overhead kick was met with an equally impressive save from Marian Kello. Papac volleyed against a Hearts post and Steve Davis fired over from close range as the visitors pressed for the equaliser they were due. It arrived from the substitute Kyle Lafferty, who deceived the opposition wall with a low, curling free-kick.The restoration of parity briefly roused Hearts. Kyle passed up a glorious opportunity to send them back into the lead, five minutes from time, after heading a Thomson cross over the bar from just six yards. A draw looked certain as Kello brilliantly saved a Lafferty volley at point- blank range and the Hearts goalframe was rattled again, this time by Davis. During five minutes of added time, though, Naismith continued his profitable start to the campaign. It was all too much for some disgruntled denizens of Tynecastle to take.Scottish Premier LeagueHeartsRangersEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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Napoli pitch vandalised ahead of Liverpool visit • Six youths broke into stadium and dug holes in pitch• Match expected to go ahead as scheduled after repair workUefa delegates will inspect the pitch at Napoli's San Paolo stadium today after it was vandalised on Sunday. The Serie A side host Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday.A group of six youths broke into the stadium late in the afternoon before damaging both goals and digging as many as 50 small holes in the pitch.Groundstaff have been working to repair the pitch since Monday morning, however, and Gazzetta dello Sport reports that it will be ready for Thursday's game and that Liverpool are expected to train on the pitch tomorrow evening.One of the vandals has been caught and identified, but as he is a minor was returned to his parents without charge. Police believe that the group were simply acting out without any greater motive, but others have suggested they may have been encouraged by groups of Napoli supporters unhappy with the club's decision to raise ticket prices for the match."In my opinion this was not a simple act of vandalism," said the Naples councillor responsible for sport, Alfred Ponticelli. "I don't believe it was a coincidence that [Napoli] are playing Liverpool on Thursday,"Europa LeagueNapoliLiverpoolPaolo Bandiniguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |