Andrew Dickson reporting from Hampden Park

BARRY FERGUSON led by example as his goal inspired Rangers to their first final in three years at Hearts' expense in the CIS Cup.

The skipper was the only player in the Light Blues' starting line-up to have played in the last one, the 5-1 win over Motherwell in the same competition in 2005.

Few have felt the pain of missing out on such showpiece games in the time since then as Ferguson has.

But his strike helped end the barren run and he and his team-mates can look forward to meeting with Aberdeen or Dundee United for the trophy.

Jean-Claude Darcheville, a past French Cup and League winner, also played his part as the Tynecastle men were beaten.

The 32-year-old's second-half effort clinched the game and that keeps his dream of trophy success at Ibrox alive and well.

Manager Walter Smith made two changes to the side which comfortably beat St Mirren 4-0 at Ibrox on Saturday.

It was to be expected that Sasa Papac would be restored to the first XI following Alan Hutton's big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day.

But the omission to the bench of Kris Boyd, a scorer of four goals in the last two games, was more of a surprise. He made way for Lee McCulloch.

Chances for either side were at a premium early on, with Gers enjoying more possession but struggling to find an end product.

Darcheville's pace won his side a corner but Chris Burke did nothing with it then couldn't find anyone after being released by Brahim Hemdani.

Charlie Adam soon brought the game to life, bringing out an excellent save from Steve Banks after Steven Whittaker's cross.

McCulloch was blocked seconds later when Ferguson's hanging ball wasn't cleared and only Robbie Neilson's intervention stopped him from netting.

Former Wigan man McCulloch came close again soon after when Ferguson found him at the back post but it took him by surprise and Hearts scrambled the ball away.

The Jambos couldn't get a shot on goal - but Christian Nade might have had a penalty when Carlos Cuellar appeared to haul him down inside the box.

Spurred on by that, the Edinburgh outfit tried to exert some pressure and Saulius Mikoliunas had a go but pulled his effort wide from 20 yards.

Eggert Jonsson did better when he found the target but Allan McGregor was equal to the task and held the ball well.

Back came Rangers, who should have had a spot kick of their own when Darcheville's run into the area was crudely ended by Christos Karipidis and Neilson.

Adam pulled a shot wide as Gers looked for a half-time lead but it was Hearts who came closest to getting one.

Andrius Velicka's header from a Jonsson cross looked tame but it held up in the wind and bounced off the top of the bar, albeit with McGregor tracking it all the way.

Adam's dipping attempt prior to the interval and Velicka's shot after it were both close but it remained 0-0.

That was, at least, until the 50th minute, when captain Ferguson put Smith's men ahead in controversial circumstances.

He clearly used his left hand when controlling Burke's cross but that went unnoticed by referee Mike McCurry and he turned Christophe Berra to score.

While the offence should have been punished, it was an excellent finish from Ferguson and his eighth goal of the season.

Rangers pushed for a second, while Darcheville hitting the upright just before the hour mark. McCulloch then failed to hit the mark after Burke's cut back.

But Hearts gave a stark reminder there was just one goal in it, with Velicka somehow missing when he should have levelled after him and Nade broke clear.

Darcheville was quick to remove any doubt, claiming the second with a tap in on 69 minutes after good work by the tricky Burke on the right.

Nacho Novo came on to replace the Frenchman and he tried to add gloss to a good win.

Although he couldn't, Rangers' place in the final was assured by then and they can now look ahead to a match with one of the New Firm at Hampden on March 16.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Cuellar, Papac, Ferguson, Hemdani, Adam, Burke, Darcheville (Novo 76), McCulloch.

Subs not used: Faye, Broadfoot, Boyd, G. Smith.

Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves (Wallace 83), Jonsson, Palazuelos, Stewart, Mikoliunas (Driver 58), Nade (Beniusis 71), Velicka.

Subs not used: Beniusis, McCann, Basso.

Referee: Mike McCurry.