THERE are some among the Hearts support who have, for reasons best known to themselves, not been particular admirers of Robbie Neilson during his time as manager.

Neilson has, despite leading a club which nearly went out of existence just over two years ago to the Ladbrokes Championship title and a place in Europe in the space of two seasons, been subjected to abuse and even calls for his sacking.

However, there will surely be precious few among the Tynecastle faithful who will be glad to see him move on this week when his switch to English League One club MK Dons is confirmed after this sweetest of swansongs.

Read more: Neilson stays coy over Hearts future as Rangers boss Warburton fumes over offside decision and dire display

This 2-0 victory of Rangers, achieved courtesy of goals from Robbie Muirhead in either half, saw Hearts jump above their opponents and into second place in the Premiership table due to a superior goal difference.

Neilson can, despite the ill-feeling that has been directed towards him from some, be proud of what he has achieved during his time in charge should, as is widely expected, move on to England in the coming days.

It looks decidedly like Callum Paterson could soon be departing Hearts too. Steve McLaren, the Derby County manager, was in attendance last night to watch the right back in the flesh and will have been impressed with what he witnessed.

The Scotland internationalist enjoyed a decent game, both defensively and in attack, and was unlucky not to score. It would be no surprise if a bid from Derby was tabled soon after the January transfer window opens next month as a result.

Read more: Neilson stays coy over Hearts future as Rangers boss Warburton fumes over offside decision and dire display

Mark Warburton, the Rangers manager, is not in any imminent danger of departing Ibrox any time soon. But this loss will increase pressure on him considerably. Victory in the league match with Aberdeen at home on Saturday it now crucial.

Warburton had taken umbrage at Sky Sports pundit and former Rangers player Neil McCann describing Joe Garner as being in “the wrong movie” at the weekend. But he chose not to give the striker a leading role in this blockbuster.

Garner, a £1.8 million acquisition from Preston North End in the summer, has netted just three goals in 12 appearances since arriving in this country. However, the 28-year-old is certainly a physical player and may have been the ideal man to deploy up front in what is

Joe Dodoo, who netted a late second half double against Partick Thistle after coming off the bench at Firhill on Saturday to secure an unlikely 2-1 victory, was preferred up front.

Matt Crooks also came in in the centre of midfield at the expense of his former Acrington Stanley team mate Josh Windass for his first start. It was an understandable change given the height and physicality of the home team.

There was, unsurprisingly given the importance of the match, plenty of honest endeavour, but little play of real quality in what was the first meeting between these two clubs in over 18 months early on. Rangers probably produced the better football early on with the runs of Harry Forrester and Jason Holt from deep causing Hearts concern.

The visitors, though, failed to create any scoring opportunities and the home team steadily took control. Only the excellence of Wes Foderingham in goals prevented them from taking the lead. He denied Jamie Walker, Bjorn Johnsen twice and Paterson in the first half. But he was helpless to prevent his side from falling behind just a minute before half-time.

Johnsen sent Arnaud Djoum through with a cheeky flick on and only a questionable challenge from Andy Halliday, who blatantly barged into him as he bore down on goal, prevented the Cameroonian from scoring. To his credit, he stayed on his feet instead of going to ground searching for a penalty.

Djoum laid the ball back to Johnsen who spotted Muirhead charging into the box. He supplied his team mate with who converted from an acute angle. It was a bad time for Rangers to concede. Hearts, though, certainly deserved it.

Read more: Neilson stays coy over Hearts future as Rangers boss Warburton fumes over offside decision and dire display

Rangers believed they had equalised in the 53rd minute when Dodoo pounced after Jack Hamilton had palmed a Kenny Miller shot into his path inside the Hearts box. The striker controlled the ball beautifully and volleyed it into the roof of the net.

Stand side linesman David McGeachie, though, ruled that Forrester had been in an offside position when Dodoo shot and referee Craig Thomson disallowed the strike. But it took an eternity, 13 seconds in total, for the flag to go up. To say Warburton was incensed was an understatement.

His mood would have darkened seven minutes later when Walker broke down the left before squaring the ball across goal for Muirhead to turn in from a few yards out.

Chants off “there’s only one Robbie Neilson” broke out in the stands as the game reached its conclusion. It has not been hear often during his time in the dugout.

Hearts: Hamilton, Paterson, Rherras, Rossi, Kitchen, Walker, Djoum, Souttar, Cowie (Smith, 83), Johnsen (Sammon, 90), Muirhead (Buaben, 77). Substitutes not used: Noring, Nowak, Currie, Watt.

Rangers: Foderingham, Tavernier, Wallace, Wilson, Kiernan, Miller, Dodoo (Garner, 66), Forrester (60, O’Halloran), Halliday, Crooks (McKay, 66), Holt.

Substitutes not used: Gilks, Hodson, Senderos, Waghorn.

Referee: Craig Thomnson.

Attendance: 16,803