After skittish behaviour in the Premier League Rangers, supposedly the untouchables, needed these points. Last Wednesday the Ibrox machine crushed Sturm Graz in the Champions League but domestically Rangers have lurched like an old tractor. In fact, this was their first league win in three attempts.

Only now are the stakes truly getting high for Dick Advocaat's side. On Wednesday they travel to Monaco in their second Champions League match, a night which will measure Rangers' mettle in the bigger environment. Advocaat will already be plotting.

Poor Antti Niemi, the brave and agile Hearts goalkeeper, might wonder what he must do to keep them out. Niemi made a series of blocks and catches only to see Rangers score following a re-bound from yet another fine save. It didn't require someone of Ronald de Boer's calibre to score this effort from five yards.

Having pulled off late-night heroics in Germany on Thursday, holding Stuttgart to 1-0 in the Uefa Cup, Hearts, claiming exhaustion, had requested the postponement of this match.

In a typically gutsy performance, they were made to rue their missed chances. In their first attack Gary McSwegan headed tamely at Stefan Klos while Juanjo, their precocious Spanish youngster, dribbled this way and that past a posse of Rangers defenders before meekly allowing Klos to save again.

De Boer sealed it for Rangers in the 58th minute, prodding home a rebound off Niemi following Billy Dodds' shot. Rangers savoured this test but real scrutiny awaits in three days' time.

RANGERS: Klos, Ricksen, Konterman, Amoruso, Numan, Johnston, Tugay, van Bronckhorst, Albertz (McCann 45), de Boer (Miller 86), Dodds (Vidmar 76). Subs Not Used: Lovenkranes, Charbonnier. Booked: Numan, Ricksen. Goals: de Boer 58.

HEARTS: Niemi, Flogel, Pressley, Petric, Naysmith, Simpson, Murray, Fulton, Cameron, Juanjo (Jackson 86), McSwegan (O'Neil 75). Subs Not Used: Rousset, Kirk, Neilson. Booked: Simpson. Attendance: 47,340.

Referee: H Dallas (Scotland).