David Melvin reporting from Tynecastle

DOUBLES from Jean Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo fired Rangers to a crucial three points that could go a long way to deciding the destination of this season's league flag.

With a hectic March about to kick off, all eyes were on a venue where Rangers put in their worst performance of the season so far.

With rivals Celtic four points behind and in action at home, many were predicted a difficult night for Walter Smith's side.

But the players and manager obviously had that September match in mind as they swept Hearts aside with as accomplished a display as they have had in the SPL this term.

Darcheville's first half double was matched by Novo after the break as Rangers racked up their tenth consecutive SPL victory.

Smith made two changes from the team that beat Gretna 4-2 at the weekend, with Christian Dailly a notable inclusion in midfield.

The Scotland international was signed from West Ham in the January transfer window with a variety of positions in mind, and he filled the role most often occupied by Brahim Hemdani as Smith reverted to a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Daniel Cousin dropped back to the bench, leaving Jean Claude Darcheville up front on his own, Charlie Adam coming in to midfield to fill the left side berth.

That switch allowed Steven Naismith to move to the right in place of the absent Chris Burke, and it was Naisy who almost opened the scoring early in the first half.

The second in a series of four corners found the head of Dailly and his knock down was flicked goalward by Naismith with only a wonderful reflex save from Steve Banks stopping the ball creeping in below the cross bar.

It was a deserved chance after a period of pressure for the visitors in what was an extremely physical opening 20 minutes.

With Davis and Ferguson safe in the knowledge that they had the protective barrier of Dailly just behind them, both looked lively and sharp in midfield.

And it was that combination that created the chance that led to the opening goal. Davis again found Ferguson and the captain's neat flick put Darcheville in behind the Hearts defence.

It was a narrow angle, but Darcheville's low left foot drive beat Banks and found the bottom corner of the Hearts net to give Rangers the lead after 25 minutes.

Both sides were clearly aware of the hype surrounding this game in the build up and there was no let up in the pace of the game after the goal.

The tight Tynecastle stands were adding to the atmosphere and Hearts were unfazed at going behind.

And it was a neat move from the left that almost gave them the chance to get back in the game when Elliot found himself just inside the Gers box, but he blazed well over the bar after 37 minutes.

Ferguson was becoming increasingly influential in the middle of the park and when he broke on to a Naismith flick on to fire a shot in from 20 yards, Banks had to pull off another fine save to force it round for a corner.

The captain took the resulting set piece and in a carbon copy of Naismith's earlier chance, Dailly met the delivery with his head and Naismith's flick on was blocked.

This time however, Hearts couldn't turn the ball away from goal, and Darcheville was on hand to force home his second of the match just a minute before the break.

It was Darcheville's last action in the match as he was replaced by Nacho Novo at the interval.

And the little Spaniard showed just why he has such a special place in the fans' hearts when he was on hand to turn Charlie Adam's driven cross from the left past Banks with just seven minutes of the second half played.

Hearts interim coach Stephen Frail reacted quickly with another attacking substitution, introducing Ksanavicius for Goncalves, and followed that with another forward in Zaliukas ten minutes later.

But Rangers continued to exert pressure, with their corner count quickly passing into double figures.

And with Hearts looking increasingly shaky, Novo once again found the net from an Adam delivery.

This time Charlie crossed from the right and Novo flicked a lovely backheel into the far corner to the delight of the Rangers bench.

Walter Smith and Ally McCoist were less impressed minutes later when Novo was felled as he raced into the Hearts box, only for referee Stuart Dougal to wave away appeals for a spot kick.

It was already an irrelevance, and Smith and McCoist will no doubt reflect on their night's work as a more comfortable one than they could possibly have expected ahead of kick off.