HEARTS, like many before them, came to the painful realisation that leaving Paul Gascoigne and Ally McCoist to their own devices is as dangerous as abandoning a couple of arsonists inside a building with a can of paraffin and a supply of matches. Doubles from the England midfielder and the Scotland striker secured Rangers the Scottish League Cup for the 20th time.

Hearts' refusal to capitulate throughout an extraordinary final, however, was typified by the persistent, and somewhat justified, anger of their manager, Jim Jefferies, and captain, Gary Mackay, over a refereeing decision which swung the match in Rangers' favour.

Having overcome a two goal deficit to square the match at 2-2, the Tynecastle side, in the 64th minute, had the scent of a lead themselves when Robertson was clearly fouled by Bjorklund very close to the Hearts dug out. The referee failed to award the free kick, the ball was quickly played forward to Gascoigne and he put Rangers back in front. It was a magnificent finish from the midfielder, whose quiet, mannered performance was punctuated by some peerless passing, from which others, most notably McCoist, could have inflicted further damage.

With Hearts' momentum brought to a sudden halt, Gascoigne gave the favourites a 4-2 lead just two minutes later. This time, he burst in from the left, played a one two with Miller and calmly right footed the return pass to the left of Rousset.

No controversy could have been forecast when McCoist scored his two in the first 26 minutes, prompting the chilling thought among the Edinburgh fans that a score similar to last May's 5-1 thrashing in the Scottish Cup final was looming.

It was Fulton, a minute from the break, who encouraged Hearts with a powerful, low drive from 18 yards after McCann's corner kick had been knocked forward by Cameron. McCann, chosen as man of the match spent the second half roasting Moore down the left, and provided the ammunition for Robertson's equaliser.

By the time Weir headed Hearts' third, from McCann's free kick in the last minute, Rangers - especially Goram, with three crucial saves - had done enough to assure Walter Smith his 11th trophy since succeeding Graeme Souness as manager in 1991.