Rangers 2-1 Hearts: Report and reaction

Striker Garner, who had scored a late winner in the 2-1 vitcory over Partick Thistle last week, headed the home side ahead in the seventh minute before Jambos defender Prince Buaben was given a straight red card by referee Bobby Madden in the 26th minute for preventing Josh Windass going clear through on goal.

Striker Esmael Goncalves levelled six minutes after the break but McKay, who had come on to level at Firhill, restored the home side's lead two minutes later following a mistake by Hearts' debutant keeper Viktor Noring.

If Rangers' Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha still has plenty to do to make the Govan side a credible challenger to champions Celtic, their traditional rivals, Hearts head coach Ian Cathro does not have his worries to seek either, despite a creditable performance when they went a man down.

Cathro, who made his managerial debut at Ibrox in a 2-0 defeat in December, has watched his side win just six times in 24 matches and will continue to be under scrutiny, much like Caixinha.

The Portuguese coach made four changes for the lunchtime kick-off as defenders Lee Hodson and Clint Hill, midfielder Jon Toral and McKay all started.

Cathro dropped keeper Jack Hamilton and gave a debut to 26-year-old Sweden cap Noring, signed last summer after leaving Danish side Lyngby.

Noring, who had a loan spell at Celtic in 2013 without playing, was one of five changes with Liam Smith, Sam Nicholson, Malaury Martin and Bjorn Johnsen coming in.

The Light Blues' opener came from a wonderful cross from the right by skipper Kenny Miller leaving Garner to head in off the far post for his 10th goal of the season.

Hearts stumbled around in some confusion for a few moments but in the 12th minute only a fine save by Gers keeper Wes Foderingham prevented Don Cowie's well-struck drive flying into the top corner, the Light Blues surviving the corner.

Five minutes later, amid some indecision in the Jambos box, Noring dived to his left to save a goal-bound shot from a Garner before Goncalves went down in the Rangers penalty area under pressure from veteran defender Hill and looked in vain for a penalty.

However, when Buaben was sent packing after pulling Windass back as he burst through the Hearts defence, the visitors found themselves facing an even tougher task.

Amid steady rainfall, Hearts kept pushing and Foderingham saved Johnsen's header from a Cowie corner before Noring thwarted headers from Gers defender David Bates and Hill.

Defender Alex Tziolis replaced Malaury Martin for the start of the second half and the Edinburgh side were soon level.

Johnsen burst forward down the left flank, past Gers midfielder Jason Holt and squared at ease for the unmarked Goncalves to confidently side foot past Foderingham.

But Rangers' lead was soon restored.

Defender James Tavernier's cross from the right high was punched high into the air by Noring and when he failed to gather it on its way down, McKay swept the loose ball into the far corner.

Instead of taking confidence from the goal, Rangers became nervy and Hearts sensed they could still get something from the game.

Foderingham saved from Johnsen's low drive and then blocked a back-heel from Arnaud Djoum after the midfielder had capitalised on slack defending.

The Light Blues looked more composed in the final stages.

Tavernier headed a Hodson cross over the bar with 10 minutes remaining and Noring, who had earlier produced a fine save from Toral's long-range drive, blocked a shot from substitute Martyn Waghorn, on for Toral, with his feet as Hearts eventually and unsurprisingly, ran out of steam.

Post-match reaction

Pedro Caixinha wants his Rangers side to finish the season with a flourish following the 2-1 win over Hearts at Ibrox. 

Asked what he was looking for in the last week of the season, with ostensibly nothing to play for, the Portuguese coach said: "Win my friend. Win.

"It is going to be the last working week before a short period of vacation and we return again.

"The working week is ready. I am always working in advance and depending on what is going on, I make some changes after I analyse the game. But it is about winning.

"We want to finish well and until the last moment they are here and I am here, we can think only about winning."

Caixinha also confirmed that midfielder Jon Toral will return to Arsenal from his loan spell and Gers defender Clint Hill admitted some disappointment that he had not been offered a new deal by the club.

"I will be moving on unfortunately," said the 38-year-old.

"It has been hard on the pitch in terms of performances but it has been brilliant for me to play at this club, and to play in front of the fans has been a big highlight for me.

"Obviously you are a little bit disappointed (at no deal) because when you play at such a big club you want it to last as long as possible.

"But I have been in football long enough to know that when a new manager comes in they have different ideas, so I am just trying to enjoy every minute as if it's my last.

"I can only wish the club all the best and hopefully see them get back to the top sooner rather than later."

Hearts head coach Ian Cathro started his managerial career with a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox last December, and despite a decent display by his side when a man short, he ended the day with just six victories in 24 games.

The 30-year-old dropped keeper Jack Hamilton and gave a debut to 26-year-old Sweden cap Noring, signed last summer after leaving Danish side Lyngby.

Noring made several fine saves but was at fault for McKay's winner, punching a James Tavernier cross high into the air then failing to gather.

Cathro said: "It was a big day for him. He was deserving of the opportunity over a period of time.

"I think he showed some qualities at times. Of course, there's the error in the cross and when you're talking about goalkeepers naturally it's always a bigger headline than the misplaced passes in the build-up.

"But, you know, he's one of our two options.

"Of course there's the disappointment of losing but there's a lot of positives things inside. We in the inside know what we're doing and how we're building and working. Today I'm even more convinced that we will be a very good team."