But with Craig Levein’s men enjoying a six game unbeaten home run, while Rangers have yet to lose this season it was always going to be a fiercely contested game.
In only the second minute the home crowd were on their feet when Mark de Vries tangled with Zurab Khizanishvili in the box.
The former Dordrecht 90 striker felt he should have won a penalty but Stuart Dougal clearly didn’t agree and waved play on.
As expected it was end to end stuff and both Shota Arveladze and Michael Mols had half chances in front of Tepi Moilanen’s goal but neither could really test the keeper.
In the seventh minute de Vries and Khizanishvili were at in again but the Dutchman’s willingness to go to ground didn’t impress the referee and play raged on.
Sixty second later though the Hearts hitman almost put his side ahead when his low shot, from Joe Hamill’s corner, was stopped on the line by Emerson.
It seemed to be the kick-start Rangers needed and the Light Blues began to get some joy down the right through Nuno Capucho.
Hearts have an excellent defensive record this season and while Pressley and Webster looked solid in the middle, the weak link was definitely Australian youngster Patrick Kisnorbo.
Rangers tried to capitalise on this and Capucho’s tricky runs set up Arveladze and then Michael Mols, but neither could convert.
In the 34th minute though the visitors had their first real opportunity when Arteta dispossessed MacFarlane in midfield.
It was three against three and after bringing Capucho into play, his fierce drive across goal could only be knocked into the side netting by Emerson.
A minute later the former Porto star was the provider again but Moilanen produced an excellent save to turn Mols’ shot around the post.
On the stroke of half time, however, the Light Blues’ hard work paid off and they took the lead through Shota Arveladze.
McLeish decided to stick with his front pairing of Mols and Arveladze, instead of starting Egil Ostenstad, and it proved to be the right decision in the 45th minute.
After some neat one touch football Emerson passed to the Georgian and his fierce drive from 20 yards gave Moilanen no chance.
It was just the breakthrough the Light Blues had been looking for and it was a severe blow to Hearts, coming so close to half time.
But Rangers didn’t lose any momentum during that break and in the 51st minute Peter Lovenkrands doubled their lead.
After scoring the winner against Stuttgart on Tuesday he looked right up for this match and did brilliantly to rise above everyone to head home Mo Ross’ cross from the right.
On the hour mark Michael Mols almost bagged his sixth goal of the season when Lovenkrands charged down the left, but he was a stride short of the Danes cutback.
That miss, however, just delayed the pain for Hearts and Rangers were 3-0 up in the 71st minute after great skill from the club’s new Brazilian midfielder, Emerson.
The former Middlesbrough star unleashed a superb half volley from the edge of the box, after Arteta’s corner was cleared and although Moilanen did brilliantly to tip it onto the bar, Arveladze was left with a tap in.
Hearts made their fourth penalty claim of the match when Kirk felt Berg illegally challenged him from behind but Dougal rightly pointed out that the Norwegian defender won the ball.
Alex McLeish’s latest acquisition, Egil Ostenstad was handed his debut with a quarter of an hour remaining to replace the tiring Mols.
And he showed his bravery in the 88th minute when he collided with Moilanen while trying to convert Ross’s cross.
The duo clashed heads but although they were both lying on the turf, play continued and Lovenkrands steamed in at the back post to stick the ball into an empty net.
Moilanen had to leave the pitch and having already used all three subs Scott Severin was forced to keep gloves for Hearts.
Tynecastle is always a difficult ground to come to and take maximum points but an excellent team performance has ensured that the Light Blues continue their stay at the top of the SPL.
HEARTS: Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, Kisnorbo, Stamp, Severin, MacFarlane, Hamill (Kirk 53), de Vries (McKenna 86), Wyness (Valois 61)
Subs: Gordon, Boyack
RANGERS: Klos, Ross, Berg, Khizanishvili, Ball, Capucho, Emerson, Arteta, Lovenkrands, Mols (Ostenstad 75), Arveladze
Subs: McGregor, Vanoli, Malcolm, Hughes
Referee: Stuart Dougal
Man-of-the-match: Emerson