Controversy as Rangers hit Hearts for four to go back on top of League

Hearts 0, Rangers 4

The visitors extended their 100% league record to six games thanks to two goals each from Shota Arveladze and Peter Lovenkrands.

The home side ended the game with 10 men when goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen was forced off with a head injury and Rangers winger Nuno Capucho was barracked for the second week running following more unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Hearts manager Craig Levein insisted afterwards his side had been denied three legitimate penalty claims. Levein was convinced referee Stuart Dougal had been in error when he made snap judgements throughout the game, with the most significant a third-minute ruling that Zura Khizanishvili had not fouled Mark de Vries.

Levein also argued that Phil Stamp had been brought down in the box by Mikel Arteta in the second half and that Henning Berg had not played the ball when he challenged Andy Kirk in mid-shot as the official had ruled.

Levein is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the Scottish FA, who have tried to punish him for comments made last season about the performance of referee Douglas McDonald.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish was delighted with a victory that had followed midweek Champions League success against Stuttgart.

He said: "It was a tough start. We knew it would be as Hearts have had a great start and have been playing with great confidence so to come away with that victory is very satisfying. The goals were truly outstanding."

McLeish was less clear on the penalty incidents. He said: "For the first one I thought Zura was the wrong side of him but Stuart Dougal is closer to it than me. De Vries is good at what he does - rolling people and you have to remember that the big man is holding as well so maybe the ref thought it was six of one and half a dozen of the other.

HEARTS: Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, MacFarlane, Severin, Stamp, Kisnorbo, Hamill (Kirk 54), de Vries (McKenna 87), Wyness (Valois 62).

RANGERS: Klos, Ross, Berg, Ball, Capucho, Arteta, Khizanishvili, Arveladze, Mols (Ostenstad 75), Lovenkrands, Emerson.

Referee: S Dougal (Scotland).