Maroon Memories: Rangers have no answer to the lusty tackling of tigerish Tynecastle team

After this exciting and exhilarating victory over Rangers, Hearts finished the first quarter of their league programme with six points.

The manner in which they inflicted Rangers' first league defeat of the season suggested that the Tynecastle men could do far better than that, even after their bad start, And indeed they were to finish a respectable seventh.

When you think that Rangers' veteran goalkeeper, Peter McCloy, was their best player by a mile, it was really remarkable how superior Hearts were for most of the game.

Ibrox manager Jock Wallace was man enough to admit that Hearts were much the better side, and deserved both points.

To be honest, Hearts could have won by three or four goals but for some brilliant saves from McCloy.

Considering Hearts had been so hard hit with injuries in previous weeks, it was most encouraging to see them play so well, particularly in midfield.

Every Hearts man did his stuff, but there was nobody better than Craig Levein, who had probably his best game in a maroon jersey despite suffering a nasty cut over one eye in a clash with McCloy, which affected his vision.

Alex MacDonald too, had a splendid 90 minutes against his old club but, really Hearts hadn't a weakness on the day.

For a team which had only lost once all season - to Dublin Bohemians on European business - Rangers were dreadfully disappointing. They scarcely forced goalkeeper Henry Smith to make a decent save, and the introduction of Australian Davie Mitchell and John McDonald up front for the first hour was a disaster.

Eventually Wallace brought on his high-priced substitutes signed from Dundee, Cammy Fraser and Ian Ferguson, but Hearts, having grabbed a long overdue lead, were in no mood to relinquish control in the last 20 minutes. These hard-hitting games with plenty of lusty tackling suit Hearts perfectly, and they more than matched Rangers on this occasion for physical endeavour.

What Alex MacDonald had to ensure from that point on was that Hearts maintained this standard in every game, and did not just reserve it for special occasions.