Joe Ellis

Sat 21 May 2022 17:28, UK

Rangers finally secured a piece of silverware for the season as they beat Hearts after extra time in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park.

It was a very cagey first 45 minutes with Amad Diallo not quite reaching a cross from the left being the Gers’ best chance after Ellis Simms had gone close for Hearts at the other end.

Joe Aribo was millimetres away from winning the game in stoppage time as Craig Gordon tipped his effort around the post but the deadlock remained in tact and the two sides headed for another 30 minutes.

Ryan Jack had to come off the bench to finally breach the stubborn Hearts defence as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a vicious strike into the roof of the net to send half of Hampden Park wild before Scott Wright surged through to double the lead with a low finish moments later.

Jon McLaughlin – 6

In truth, the Rangers cup keeper had very little to do all afternoon and spent much of it watching his outfield teammates dictate the game and pin their opposition on the edge of their own area, with only a few easy catches and footwork to contend with.

James Tavernier – 6

The skipper wasn’t as effective as he has been for much of this season but everyone is allowed an off day every now and then. That’s not to say that he was awful at Hampden because he did very little wrong throughout the game but he didn’t make those late runs into the box as much as he previously has which is something the Gers missed.

Connor Goldson – 8

He is the absolute colossus in defence that has bailed us out no end of times during his time at Ibrox. Goldson was again the CEO of the cleanup crew at the back as he threw himself in front of all kinds of crosses and shots with Hearts showing more attacking intent than we are used to in domestic games outside of the Old Firm.

Leon Balogun – 6

Having been a substitute for Wednesday’s final in Seville, Balogun returned in place of Borna Barisic to partner Goldson at centre-half and he looked like he’d never been away. He wasn’t as commanding as his English teammate but that is very difficult to do and he still looked assured in the country’s biggest football ground.

Calvin Bassey – 7

After his sensational display in the Europa League final, Bassey was again terrific in the second final of the week. His brutal physicality and unerring speed both off the line and at full tilt makes him a dangerous opponent to face and even being moved to left-back didn’t faze him.

Steven Davis – 4

He’s been great for us but he is far too old to be playing in a cup final. You could see the intensity of the game was getting to him and his ageing legs were not able to keep up on too many occasions. This feels like it might be goodbye to the Northern Irishman.

John Lundstram – 7

He’s found his calling for Rangers and the calmness he shows every single game is exactly why van Bronckhorst has put his trust in him as the side’s holding midfielder. The way he moves the ball from side to side before unleashing a killer ball to bisect the Hearts midfield makes him one of the very best in the country at his role.

Scott Arfield – 5

As much as the Gers dominated the game, Arfield was disappointingly ineffective in his attacking midfield role. The Canadian should have been driving beyond Aribo whereveer possible to give the Jam Tarts’ midfield real problems but he was far too comfortable doing the easy stuff and, as a result, failed to make an impact on the final.

Amad Diallo – 5

The teenager showed all the right ideas and energy but his execuion of them left a lot to be desired. A few times he didn’t get the pass when he’d made a good run which is not his fault but he was often scared away from attacking the Jam Tarts’ left-back and chose to instead pass back to players deeper in the play.

Joe Aribo – 6

Having scored in Seville on Wednesday, Aribo would have hoped to repeat his goal-scroing antics but despite some neat touches playing as the false nine, he was occasionally too keen on the fancy flick and trick rather than doing the basics right and helping the team. One time he failed to send Amad on the run in the first half will have been a particularly frustrating incident for van Bronckhorst.

Ryan Kent – 7

As always, Kent was very lively in the wide areas and his direct running caused plenty of issues for the Jam Tarts at Hampden and he was unfortunate not to score given how well he played. He’s done this all season long and you can see why he’s of high interest for a number of clubs in England ahead of the summer transfer window.

Substitutes:

Scott Wright (on for Diallo 63′) – 7

He very nearly had the deciding goal in normal time, hitting the bar from a header but he made amends with a very precise low finish past Craig Gordon to double their lead in the added 30 minutes and give the Gers crucial breathing space.

Glen Kamara (on for Davis 82′) – 6

He was certainly better than the man he replaced which is exactly what you want to see from your substitute. He was the only one of the three who came on in normal time not to score which the other two won’t allow him to forget.

Ryan Jack (on for Arfield 82′) – 8

He came on and changed the game, literally. His unstoppable thunderbolt lighted up the final and spakred Rangers’ epic extra time display, just like a proper Bear should do.

Fashion Sakala (on for Aribo 105′) – 6

Allan McGregor (on for McLaughlin 119′) – N/A

In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has been poking the bear that is Gers supporters on Twitter as he took aim at Ally McCoist.