Hearts 0 Rangers 4:JEAN-CLAUDE Darcheville and Nacho Novo claimed doubles to fire Rangers to their 10th consecutive league win as Walter Smith's men showed their title credentials.
Hearts found themselves ripped apart by a rampant Rangers, who sent out a clear message to rivals Celtic by maintaining their four-point advantage at the summit.
Darcheville was deployed as the lone frontman with Cristian Dailly drafted into the team to anchor a five-man midfield, which also included Charlie Adam on the left.
Only superb goalkeeping prevented Rangers from taking the lead with their first real chance. Dailly connected with Barry Ferguson's corner at the back post and nodded to Steven Naismith, whose point-blank header was kept out by a reflex save from Steve Banks.
Darcheville claimed the opener after 25 minutes. Ferguson swept the ball out to Darcheville as he cut inside from the left and the striker did well to squeeze the shot inside the far post.
Darcheville got his second two minutes before the break when he miskicked a Carlos Cuellar header but still found the goal.
Darcheville was withdrawn for Novo at the interval, and he was on the park only seven minutes when he bundled home from close range.
The fourth came on 69 minutes when Novo produced a cheeky back-heel finish from six yards.
HEARTS: Banks, Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves (Ksanavicius 54), Cesnauskis (Mikoliunas 46), Jonsson (Zaliukas 64), Palazuelos, Wallace, Nade, Elliot. Subs not used: Basso, Ivaskevicius, Tall, Mole. Booked: Zaliukas, Ksanavicius.
RANGERS: McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker, Dailly, Naismith, Ferguson, Davis (Thomson 85), Adam, Darcheville (Novo 46). Subs not used: Alexander, Boyd, Cousin, Furman, Lennon. Goals: Darcheville 25, 44, Novo 53, 70.
Referee: S Dougal (Scotland).
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