The Jambos showed why they had won their last two league fixtures against Celtic and Dunfermline Athletic and at times were dangerous in the last third of the pitch.
But with Carlos Bocanegra and Dorin Goian solid at the back it was the Champions that took their points tally to 32 points from their twelve games to date.
Not surprisingly it was Steven Naismith that opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the season in the first half before Nikica Jelavic, left out of the starting eleven due to a virus, fired home his side’s second on 72 minutes having just replaced Kyle Lafferty.
As expected the match started at a frantic pace and it was the home side that that came out of the traps quickest.
With Rangers sitting deep Ian Black shot high from 25 yards before Dorin Goian showed his defensive qualities to block a Rudi Skacel effort, again from distance.
At the other end McCulloch failed to get power and accuracy on an ambitious volley before Edu flicked the ball over from a Steven Davis corner.
With ten minutes on the clock Steven Whittaker was the first name to go in to referee Calum Murray’s notebook for a late challenge on David Templeton, his second foul of the game.
But with the Tynecastle floodlights finally switched on the game opened up and on 18 minutes a powerful McCulloch effort almost took Andy Webster’s head off before the ball flew out of play.
From the resulting corner Davis picked out his midfield partner deep in the 18 yard box and Jig was clearly disappointed not to hit the target with his header looping which went over Marian Kello’s crossbar.
It was better from Rangers and on 21 minutes they opened the scoring with an excellent goal with Whittaker the architect.
The right back produced a trademark, lung bursting run in to the Hearts half and although he got a bit of luck when skipping past a defender his pass through to Naismith was inch perfect.
The Scotland star, who clearly loves playing at Tynecastle, didn’t hesitate in blasting a powerful shot from 15 yards which went through the legs of Kello before hitting the net.
Steven Whittaker and Stevie Naismith celebrateAfter a lively start the goal was a blow to the Jambos who responded by pushing up and a great last ditch challenge from Sasa Papac denied Ryan Stevenson who would certainly have tested McGregor with his left foot effort.
With the tackles flying in and the midfield area congested it was not a surprise that a second booking was issued, this time to Danny Grainger who clattered Edu from behind in the centre circle.
It was a sore one for the energetic American who had his hands on his head on 35 minutes when he shifted the ball skilfully from right to left but he blasted his shot wide with his weaker foot from 20 yards.
At Murray’s half time whistle it was Rangers that had a slender advantage in place although former Gorgie favourite Lee Wallace and Bocanegra did well to track back and beat Stevenson to the ball after the Jambos number 16 had got in behind the Gers backline.
McGregor then had to be lively to palm away a dipping shot from Skacel before Stevenson was booked for handling the ball as he attempted to connect with a Templeton delivery.
It was a pulsating opening period and the second started in a similar way to the first with Hearts desperate to get back in to the game.
Just a couple of minutes in a great cross from the left from Adrian Mrowiec had to be watched carefully by McGregor and Goian as it flew across the penalty area.
And Skacel then unleashed a thunderbolt shot from which smashed in to Stevenson’s chest and left the tattooed frontman writhing in pain on the Tynecastle turf.
With Hearts’ formation switching from 4-5-1 to 4-3-3 they were getting more bodies up the park and on 65 minutes they should have been level.
Templeton used his pace to dart past Goian on the left and his cross arrived at Mrowiec, who was unmarked, at the back post.
The Pole had time to take a touch but he somehow missed the goal from 12 yards.
Templeton was now getting a bit of joy and when the winger again skipped by Goian the towering defender received his first yellow card of the campaign for his late challenge.
From the resulting free kick Black curled the ball in and Zaliukas flicked the ball over the bar while under pressure from Bocanegra.
Nikica JelavicOn 72 minutes McCoist decided to make a double change with Gregg Wylde replacing Sasa Papac and Kyle Lafferty making way for Nikica Jelavic. It proved a masterstroke.
With a section of the Hearts fans singing ‘Black is going to get you’ the Croatian took just 90 seconds to silence them by scoring an outstanding second goal for his side.
Bocanegra punted a long ball over the Jambo’s backline and Jelavic was there to cushion the ball in to the far corner of the net with the inside of his cultured right boot.
It was the 27th goal of the striker’s Rangers career and once again the finish was exquisite.
This game, however, was not over yet and while the travelling Bears celebrated their side’s advantage McGregor showed his class by making a crucial double save from Stevenson.
This was as close as Paulo Sergio’s men came to responding on another memorable away day for the Light Blues.
This fixture was always going to a potential banana skin but McCoist will be delighted with his side’s performance as every player played their part in another crucial victory.
Man of the Match: Steven Naismith – A few candidates for this award today but Scotland star again put in a great shift and took his goal superbly.