HEARTS grabbed a dramatic injury-time winner seconds after Rangers thought they’d snatched a point as the Championship got off to a disappointing start for the Light Blues.
On the day the Govan Stand was renamed in Sandy Jardine’s honour, his old club came to Ibrox and earned a hard-fought victory.
Gers were the better team in the first period after unfurling the League One flag but squandered a host of opportunities and paid for it shortly after the restart.
Danny Wilson – one of seven players who featured against their old team – netted with a strong header.
The home side took time to pick up but finally did on the 90-minute mark as Nicky Law forced over the line when Kenny Miller knocked down to him.
Osman Sow delivered a crushing blow almost instantly, however, to give the Tynecastle side a very early advantage in the title race.
The defeat was Ally McCoist’s team’s first in a league contest since they were beaten 2-1 by Peterhead in the Third Division in April 2013.
Backed by a boisterous home crowd, Rangers began on the front foot and Kris Boyd’s early shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Away defender Alim Ozturk was also short with a passback to Neil Alexander and the visitors nearly paid for his slackness as Ian Black chased the ball down.
The keeper did enough to block him but the rebound spilled to Miller, only for Alexander to thwart him too then Boyd as he followed up after that.
There was indecision at the other end too as Marius Zaliukas and Cammy Bell got mixed up, with the latter touching a cross behind for a corner when he expected the defender to clear.
When the set piece came in, Wilson steered a header towards the back post but David Templeton – in for Darren McGregor – cleared well with a strong header.
Back came Gers again in a frantic start, with Miller outfoxing Wilson on the near side to allow Lewis Macleod to swing a teasing cross in which dropped just past the far post.
Templeton then somehow headed over after Miller miscued with his own shot following wonderful footwork by Macleod to wriggle into the area.
Hearts looked rattled in defence and Lee Wallace was able to get the better of Ozturk as he tried to shepherd a ball out for a goal kick.
But when Templeton picked up, he elected to aim for goal and lifted too high when he should have picked Boyd out in a central position instead.
The ex-Tynecastle player was involved in much of Rangers’ attacking play and he got on the end of Macleod’s cross too but his header was tame and off the mark.
Miller was next to come forward as the hosts continued to have the better of play without making it count.
Law disposed in midfield and threaded through to the striker, who took a touch too many and saw his chance to score go.
The longer things went on without the Light Blues capitalising on one of their openings, the more it seemed that could be costly.
And as Zaliukas flashed a header past from Black’s free kick after Macleod was fouled, it became increasingly frustrating the scoreline remained goalless.
The visitors made a rare burst forward and nearly went in front themselves when Gers switched off and Wilson played across for Ozturk to poke past from close range.
It was a warning Rangers didn’t heed and again Robbie Neilson’s men came forward, with Sam Nicholson wasting a header from Osman Sow’s pinpoint delivery.
With Hearts getting on top and not given a penalty they should have had when Law felled Billy King, the half-time whistle came at a good point for Gers.
But they fell behind seven minutes into the second period when Wilson headed home a King corner and showed respect to his former club with a muted celebration.
The home team tried to hit back quickly, with Miller’s delightful flick from Macleod’s low corner blocked on the line before McCulloch and Boyd were denied close in too.
There was a lengthy stoppage midway through the second half as Alexander and Ozturk clashed going for a Law free kick.
The former Ibrox keeper came off worst and had to be replaced by another ex-Ger, with Scott Gallacher coming on in his place.
Such a long pause suited Hearts more and any momentum Rangers might have been building was nipped in the bud.
McCoist brought on Dean Shiels for Templeton in an effort to lift the pace again but the malaise continued as fellow substitute Kyle Hutton screwed high and wide.
It was only in the closing minutes that Gers looked like they might level as McCulloch connected with a Macleod free kick, was blocked and Zaliukas suffered the same fate.
Miller also had a curling attempt from 20 yards blocked by Ozturk and with that is seemed Hearts would hang on.
But then, just as the match lurched into six minutes of injury time, Law struck to make it 1-1 with Gallacher’s hand not being enough to keep him out.
Within seconds, the Jambos burst upfield and grabbed a winner which, while cruel, summed up the hosts’ day.
Sow was the scorer as he slotted low under Bell from the edge of the area to give his team the points.
RANGERS: Bell; Foster, McCulloch, Zaliukas, Wallace; Macleod, Black (Hutton 49), Law, Templeton (Shiels 71); Miller, Boyd.
SUBS NOT USED: Simonsen, Smith, Aird, Clark, McGregor.
SCORER: Law 90.
BOOKINGS: Zaliukas, Foster.
HEARTS: Alexander (Gallacher 68); McGhee (McKay 55), Ozturk, Wilson, McHattie; Nicholson, Buaben, Gomis, King; Carrick (Holt 81), Sow.
SUBS NOT USED: Smith, Oliver, Keatings, Smith.
SCORERS: Wilson 53, Sow 90.
BOOKINGS: McGhee, Sow, McHattie, McKay, Wilson, Gomis.
REFEREE: Craig Thomson.
ATTENDANCE: 43,683.
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