Gary Mackay: Hearts can learn from Rangers' clinical approach

HIBS supporters had to be magnanimous in defeat last week, and I think this week it's our turn as Hearts fans to admit that our opponents were simply far better than us on Saturday.

Rangers were resilient, effective, efficient – all the factors that help ensure that they play as a seven or eight out of ten team every week. That's what Hearts have to aspire to.

Somebody told me Rangers only had about seven efforts on goal and four of them counted – that's a hell of a return.

Hearts probably had more attempts on goal against Hibs the previous week but only scored two goals so it highlights the clinical manner in the way Rangers go about their business.

That's why they're top of the league. They're a side packed with experienced players, with the likes of Davie Weir, Kenny Miller and Lee McCulloch.

These guys give Rangers an edge and a desire which is in keeping with what's demanded at Ibrox and I think in time that's something Jim Jefferies will be looking to instil at Hearts.

The only way that will be allowed to happen is if Jim is allowed to manage the football club in the same way that Walter Smith is allowed to manage his club.

I played with Davie in the last few years of my time at Hearts and he was an absolutely magnificent individual both on and off the park. He was coolness personified on the park and he's got a great attitude and great discipline.

He's played a massive part in the continued development of Danny Wilson, who I remember seeing as a ten-year-old in Sandy Clark's Murieston Boys Club team. Having someone of Davie's experience and knowledge beside him would be a massive help for a young guy like that.

Sometimes senior players can be a bit wary about the emergence of younger talent as they fear it could threaten their own place but that's certainly not the case with Davie

All the young players coming through the ranks at Hearts – or at any other club for that matter – should take a look at the way Davie carries himself both on and off the park.

It's no coincidence that he's still playing as he approaches his 40th birthday – he's looked after himself, and taken care of his body. I would love to have played until his age but unfortunately my body wouldn't allow me to.

Perhaps it was down to the fact I expended a bit more energy scurrying about in the midfield engine room for all those years!

The likes of Weir and Miller have no monetary worries, but they still have the professionalism and desire to be the best that they can be and they epitomise to me what really good, solid professionals are all about.

Kris Boyd also looks a much-improved player after increasing his workrate, so I think there is a clear message to young players that, regardless of the talent you have, a fundamental requirement in order to reap the rewards from the game is hard work.

That is something that the Hearts youngsters and even some of the more established players must take on board if they are serious about fulfilling their potential in the game.

Sticking with Saturday's game, I thought we played some nice football at times but defensively we were very poor. That was particularly disappointing because that's usually the strong point of our team.

Marius Zaliukas made a bad mistake for Rangers' second goal and that was obviously a big moment in the match because Rangers upped the tempo after that. Marius knew he had made an error – you could tell by his body language afterwards. In a situation like that the Davie Weirs of the world would have been quite happy to boot the ball into the stand.

It's these wee bits of professionalism that needs to get through to our players.

On a day when little went in our favour, the main positive for Hearts was that St Johnstone were defeated because it means we're still in a strong position for the top six. We can't rely on others to do us a turn, though. We need the boys to stand up and be counted against Kilmarnock on Saturday.