Scottish champions elect Rangers may be cruising to the title, but they were never allowed to relax at Tynecastle by a defiant Hearts side who drove them to the limit.

It needed a disputed Rod Wallace goal in the closing moments of the first half to cancel out Gary McSwegan's 12th-minute opener and pave the way for Billy Dodds' 64th-minute winner.

There was no complaint about Dodds' superbly worked strike, but referee Willie Young left Hearts fuming before the break by failing to award what seemed a clear handball against Tugay.

Had Hearts gone in ahead at the break the pressure might have told on Rangers, but instead they remain unbeaten on their league travels this term after an assured second-half display.

Their class told in the end and victories at Dundee United and St Johnstone will seal their 11th title in the last 12 seasons before the month is out regardless of Celtic's results.

Indeed should the Parkhead outfit lose at home to Dundee on Saturday, Rangers, now a commanding 16 points clear at the summit, would claim the Championship at Tannadice this weekend.

Hearts were dealt a major blow before kick-off when Colin Cameron failed a late fitness test on a hamstring problem prompting a recall for Scotland Under-21 international Scott Severin.

Rangers dropped both Jorg Albertz and Seb Rozental to the bench and rewarded Dodds with a start after his second-half hat-trick as a substitute against Ayr on Saturday.

The Ibrox outfit won that Scottish Cup semi-final 7-0 and started in assured fashion tonight with Giovanni van Bronckhorst pulling a shot wide in their first attack.

It was a fluid opening by Rangers who threatened again when Andrei Kanchelskis' cross from the right picked out Dodds, whose header drifted just over the bar.

On 11 minutes, a Wallace flicked header from a Claudio Reyna pass set up Dodds again, but his sharp volley on the turn was saved by Antti Niemi in the Hearts goal.

A minute later however, in their first meaningful attack of the contest, it was the home team who moved ahead after Lee Makel's through ball surprised Lorenzo Amoruso.

McSwegan was given a clear run at goal and although he hesitated he still had time to gain his bearings and loop the ball over the advancing Stefan Klos to make it 1-0.

Rangers were stunned and almost replied within four minutes when Amoruso's powerful free-kick, after Gordan Petric fouled Rod Wallace on the edge of the area, was spilled by Niemi.

The Finn was beaten by the sheer pace of the effort, but to his credit recovered quickly and was able to block Dodds' close-range strike from the rebound to preserve Hearts' advantage.

Amoruso clearly felt he owed his side after being partly to blame for the goal and tested Niemi from fully 35 yards after 40 minutes, forcing the home keeper into a scrambled low save.

Hearts were still posing problems though and the impressive Lee Makel chipped a cross for Darren Jackson at the far post whose half-volley was deflected wide by Scott Wilson's challenge.

But Rangers were able to level before the break in controversial fashion as Wallace converted from close range when the Hearts players were claiming handball against Tugay.

Barry Ferguson floated the ball forward for the Turkish international who appeared to use an arm to bring it under control before laying it off to Wallace who made no mistake.

The Hearts players surrounded referee Young, but the official pointed to his chest and allowed the effort to stand and within seconds brought the half to an end.

Rangers almost moved ahead directly from the restart when Kanchelskis' cross from the right found Wallace unmarked in the area, but the forward scuffed his shot.

Moments later more defensive uncertainty from Rangers allowed McSwegan a free hit at goal, but he snatched at the chance dragging his effort wide of the mark.

A surging Reyna run on 52 minutes created space to either side of the American and he opted for Wallace's run only for Niemi to deny Rangers' leading scorer at point-blank range.

The Hearts keeper required extensive treatment moments later when Dodds seemed to be late sliding in on Kanchelskis' drilled cross damaging Niemi's left thigh which needed heavy strapping.

After 55 minutes, his Rangers' counterpart Klos produced a superb one-handed stop to deny McSwegan's goalward bound header from Gary Naysmith's precise cross from the left.

But on 64 minutes, Amoruso's stylish chip upfield was headed back into Dodds' path by Kanchelskis, suddenly in a central role, and the Scotland striker slotted in from eight yards.

Hearts were not done yet and Wilson was booked for pulling down Adam on the edge of the area, Jackson's shot came to nothing but not before a further caution to Amoruso for dissent.

Rangers wanted to make the game safe and Kanchelskis came close with a fierce angled drive saved by Niemi, then a van Bronckhorst header was hacked to safety by Adam on the line.

The home team almost equalised with three minutes remaining when after more Makel trickery, Jackson screwed his shot just past the angle as Rangers were pushed to the last.

Substitute Jorg Albertz almost made it 3-1 in the last minute after Tugay combined well with Kanchelskis, but a wider margin of victory would have been harsh on luckless Hearts.

Hearts: Niemi, Flogel, Pressley, Petric, Naysmith, Makel, Tomaschek, Severin (Simpson 80), Jackson, McSwegan (Fulton 75), Adam.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Murray, Wales.

Booked: Severin, Jackson.

Goals: McSwegan 12.

Rangers: Klos, Reyna (Albertz 70), Amoruso, Wilson, Numan, Kanchelskis, Tugay, Van Bronckhorst, Ferguson, Wallace, Dodds.

Subs Not Used: Charbonnier, McCann, Rozental, Malcolm.

Booked: Van Bronckhorst, Ferguson, Wilson, Amoruso.

Goals: Wallace 45, Dodds 64.

Att: 16,314

Ref: Willie Young (Scotland).