Rangers returned to the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table after scoring the two goals required against Hearts to edge above Old Firm rivals Celtic.

The Tynecastle win sets up a nerve-wracking finale to the season when both sides head into the last day of the season with only the goals scored column separating them.

The Ibrox side's luck appeared to have deserted them when Hearts goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen blocked Shota Arveladze's penalty after Mark de Vries handled in the area.

But goals from Ronald de Boer and Peter Lovenkrands gave Rangers the result they needed to heap the pressure on Celtic again.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish admitted ahead of this game that he would be pleased just to take the three points and worry about the goal difference issue in the last game of the season against Dunfermline next week.

And the first half at Tynecastle proved to be just as difficult as the Ibrox boss predicted.

Hearts head coach Craig Levein had given the Ibrox faithful added hope of a win when he revealed that first-team regulars Steven Pressley, Scott Severin and Andy Webster - who are all one booking away from suspension - could be dropped.

Even though Kilmarnock's draw 24 hours earlier meant Hearts' place in the UEFA Cup next season is all but secure, Levein opted to field his strongest team and the trio were included in the starting line-up.

Despite having less at stake than Rangers, Hearts showed from the outset that they were willing to scrap for every ball and do their best to limit their opponent's chances in front of goal.

But it was the Ibrox side who enjoyed the first chance of the game after just three minutes. Arveladze flighted the ball into the path of Michael Mols but the Dutchman was unable to pull the trigger and the ball broke to Mikel Arteta instead.

The Spanish midfielder unleashed an impressive shot from just outside the 18-yard box only to watch in agony as the effort clipped the crossbar.

Hearts were also looking dangerous and they called goalkeeper Stefan Klos into action after seven minutes. A free-kick 35 yards out allowed Severin to power a shot at goal but he was denied by a brilliant one-handed save by Klos who managed to tip over for a corner.

With half an hour on the clock and the game still deadlocked, Rangers continued to push forward in search of the opener.

Fernando Ricksen fired a cross into the box from the right wing, which de Boer played into the path of Mols but he missed the ball completely and the danger was cleared by the Hearts defence.

Hearts had the chance to heap misery on Rangers just three minutes from half-time. Jean-Louis Valois squared the ball to de Vries and his initial attempt at goal was blocked by Ricksen.

But the towering striker recovered quickly and unleashed another shot across the face of goal which fell just inches wide of the upright.

McLeish used the half-time interval to make a change for the second 45 minutes when he replaced Arteta with Lovenkrands.

But it was Hearts who looked like scoring when de Vries was given the chance to force Klos into another impressive save, despite being surrounded by four Rangers defenders.

The first bookings of the game came when Mols and Neil MacFarlane were both cautioned by referee Hugh Dallas following a scrap after 51 minutes and that was quickly followed by Lorenzo Amoruso being booked for dissent as the game grew more fiery.

Rangers should have taken the lead after 62 minutes when they were handed a penalty after de Vries handled in the area.

Barry Ferguson missed two against Dundee and this time Arveladze stepped up for the spot-kick but he could only watch in agony as Moilanen produced a magnificent save to block.

But the Georgian made amends just two minutes later when he crossed to de Boer on the six-yard line and the Dutch playmaker finally broke the deadlock by nodding past the Hearts goalkeeper, sparking wild celebrations in the Rangers end behind the goal.

Rangers were clearly boosted by the goal and they doubled their lead 10 minutes later.

De Boer turned provider this time and he supplied a great ball from the left flank into the path of Lovenkrands and the winger gratefully bulleted the ball home to give Rangers a vital two-goal lead.

The Ibrox side could have added to their lead a few minutes later when Ferguson picked out Arveladze with a free-kick just outside the area but he nodded just wide before firing into the hands of Moilanen seconds later after being released by Steven Thompson.

Teams

Hearts: Moilanen, Neilson, Pressley (Simmons 74), Webster, Maybury, Boyack, MacFarlane, Severin, Valois (Kirk 77), Weir (McKenna 64), de Vries.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Mahe.

Booked: MacFarlane.

Rangers: Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Hughes, Ferguson, Arteta (Lovenkrands 45), de Boer, Mols (Thompson 63), Arveladze.

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Malcolm, Caniggia.

Booked: Mols, Amoruso.

Goals: de Boer 65, Lovenkrands 73.

Att: 15,632

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).