Novo nicks it for Gers

12 April 2012

A late Nacho Novo strike handed Rangers a crucial win at Tynecastle and plunged crisis club Hearts deeper into turmoil.

It was a game both teams were desperate to win and the victory allowed Gers to strengthen their grasp on second spot in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Despite a thrilling show on the park - which saw seven yellow cards dished out by referee Dougie McDonald - events off the field threatened to overshadow the game.

Chants of "there's only one Steven Pressley" rang out around Tynecastle, but his Hearts future was no clearer ahead of the game.

He missed their last game amid reports of a plot to strip him of the captaincy and was named on the bench.

Christophe Berra had deputised for the inspirational skipper at Falkirk and the captain's armband this time went to Paul Hartley, further adding to the confusion at Tynecastle.

With fans threatening to stage a protest after the game, it was unclear whether majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov made the trip to Edinburgh from his Lithuanian base for the match.

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