Rangers 2-0 Hearts: Kyle Lafferty displays thick skin to bring title ever closer to Rangers

• Kyle Lafferty celebrates scoring against Hearts

For so long Boyd has been cast the type of player who frustrates as well as thrills. The striker has been doing more of the former in recent weeks, but was given a start here yesterday. Again he failed to find the net, although Lafferty has suddenly revealed himself to be a useful source of goals. The Northern Irish internationalist followed up his strike against Aberdeen on his last Ibrox appearance with another yesterday, his fourth of the season. But the jury is still out on the player, whose performance veered between hopeless and inspirational.

He was the recipient of generous applause when replaced by Steven Naismith after 70 minutes having picked up an ankle knock. But the assessment of him had been harsher at half-time, after the sort of feckless performance which leads many in the Ibrox support to believe Rangers should cut their losses with the player.

But credit where credit is due. Lafferty not only often has a touch like a rhinoceros, he has a hide as tough as one too. The crowd's displeasure is often embarrassingly obvious as he over-hits a pass or fails to track his man. But he is able to shrug off the criticism with impressive ease. He even feels no shame in performing elaborate goal celebrations. We had another sighting of the robotic dance routine after his 54th minute header, which counted as Rangers' opener on an afternoon when they took another giant stride towards the title.

Hearts finished with ten men after Eggert Jonsson's red card in the incident which saw the home team double their lead with eight minutes remaining. But the only significance of this is that it is the first red card of the second Jim Jefferies era, now almost three months old. In terms of the game itself, it had little impact on the outcome other than to hand Rangers the penalty from which a second goal was claimed.

Jefferies, the Hearts manager, later bemoaned the lack of cutting edge in his side, although he noted his front two – David Obua and Suso Santana – are some way from being recognised strikers. While this is true, it can't offer Calum Elliot much succour to be left on the bench throughout. He watched Obua and Suso struggle to get to grips with a position that is supposed to be his area of expertise. It was a shame, because Hearts were often quite slick in the middle of the park, although the second-half saw Rangers begin to assert command.

Remorseless is a word often used in connection with Rangers this season, and Hearts suffered a second-half pummelling after having held their own in the opening 45 minutes. Lafferty's header just nine minutes after the interval was the breakthrough the home side required. Kenny Miller secured another win with an 82nd minute penalty. It is his 20th goal of an impressive season.

"He's been known more as a supplier of goals but he's been getting a fair reward for his work-rate this season," said Smith of Miller later. "He's deserved it."

Up until they took the lead it looked as though a long, hard season had begun to catch up with Rangers. Now and again some bursts of neat passing would take us by surprise, but it all invariably broke down in the last third. Only when Madjid Bougherra had the ball did the crowd sound in any way enthused. The centre-half embarked on a couple of trademark runs but Hearts were usually able to crowd him out. Yet the lack of help on offer for Bougherra was notable in a curiously listless opening from Rangers. Afterwards Smith attributed this to an absence of nerves in what has proved an unchallenged march towards the championship.

But the visitors deserve credit for a disciplined display. Hearts' passing was at times crisp although they fell short in attack. The wrong option was too often selected when in promising positions. The lively Craig Thomson got in behind Lafferty on one occasion but his cross was blocked by Allan McGregor, with Obua waiting at the back post. Thomson's inexperience was then highlighted when he scythed down Weir immediately afterwards and was booked.

Obua also collected a yellow card for a reckless tackle on Kevin Thomson, who committed more than a few meaty challenges himself in the opening 45 minutes. It was that kind of game. Goal-scoring opportunities were at a premium but Weir had an opening when a looping ball fell to him on the edge of the box, begging to be struck on the volley. The defender obliged, but his effort was both high and wide.

Rangers came nearer an opening goal a few minutes later. However, Laryea Kingston was well-positioned on the line to hack clear an effort from Lee McCulloch following a corner. But the resistance was broken just after half-time. Obua had diligently marked Lafferty at set-pieces all afternoon but for the first time the Rangers player broke free from his attentions and was able to meet Thomson's corner, heading it powerfully into the roof of the net. Jamie MacDonald, the Hearts goalkeeper, could only help it in.

The Rangers fans grew restless for a second goal and were almost provided with one in the 73rd minute, when Thomson hit the bar with a curling long-range effort. Boyd made it another outing without a goal when he was replaced by Nacho Novo five minutes later.

If anything illustrated the striker having lost the knack of being in the right place at the right time it was the award of a penalty soon after his exit. Jonsson was judged to have pushed Naismith as the substitute was preparing to connect with Novo's cross. In Boyd's absence Miller took the kick, and now stands just four shy of his strike-partner's total of 24 goals for the season.