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Bednar header sinks the champions
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSEDINBURGH, Scotland -- Hearts continued their domination of the Scottish Premier League when a 1-0 home win over champions Rangers extended their run of victories from the start of the season to eight. Czech Republic striker Roman Bednar's 15th minute goal was enough to give George Burley's side victory and put them an amazing 11 points ahead of the Ibrox club. Bednar headed home from a corner-kick from Paul Hartley. Rangers settled quickest and created the first opening in the ninth minute. Dado Prso's cross from the right found French left-back Olivier Bernard unmarked at the back post, but his downward header bounced harmlessly wide. In the 14th minute the home side created their first chance. Czech midfielder Rudolf Skacel swung a cross in towards the front post and Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus had to look sharp to block Edgaras Jankauskas' header and Julien Rodriguez knocked it away for a corner. But this only delayed Hearts from opening the scoring. Hartley sent over an inswinging cross to the near post, and Bednar raced in front of marker Marvin Andrews to send an unstoppable header into the net from three-yards out. The same player should have doubled Hearts' lead in the 18th minute when he headed over from only a few yards out, after Skacel's cross picked him out in the Rangers six-yard box. Burley's side were now controlling the match and looking likely to stretch their lead. Skacel latched on to a loose ball 20-yards from goal and struck a fierce right-foot drive just wide in the 25th minute. Goalscorer Bednar was then forced off for Hearts in the 27th minute, after picking up a knock, to be replaced by Stephen Simmons. A minute later Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon was then called into action for the first time when Dado Prso rose to meet Barry Ferguson's free-kick from the left but this header was brilliantly touched round the post by the Scottish international. But it was still the Tynecastle side who were dominating proceedings and they had strong claims for a penalty in the 29th minute when French defender Rodriguez appeared to push Simmons in the box, but referee Kenny Clark waved play-on. Determined moodRangers came out from the half-time break in a determined mood but although they had plenty of the ball they struggled to break Hearts down. And they almost found themselves two down in the 57th minute when Jankauskas headed over from Hartley's cross. French-Tunisian Hamed Namouchi made way for Argentinian striker Federico Nieto in the 74th minute, as Rangers boss Alex McLeish tried to find away to save the match. And in the 77th minute the sub had a decent chance to equalize when Thomas Buffel cut the ball back to him from the byline, but from six yards he blasted wildly over. Hearts keeper Gordon had been a virtual spectator in the match but he was called into action with five minutes to go when Julien Brellier gave away a free-kick 25-yards from goal for a foul on Jeffers. Rangers Dutch defender Fernando Rickson took the kick but although he got plenty of power in his shot it was too straight and Gordon saved easily in the centre of his goal. 
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