Rangers send Celtic message

JEAN Claude Darcheville and Nacho Novo both claimed a double to fire Rangers to their 10th consecutive Clydesdale Bank Premier League win as Walter Smith’s men showed theirtitle credentials.

Hearts found themselves ripped apart by a rampant Rangers side, who sent out a clear message to rivals Celtic by maintaining their four-point advantage at the summit of the SPL.

Darcheville claimed the opener after 25 minutes when Ferguson collected a neat pass from Steve Davis before sweeping the ball out to Darcheville as he cut inside from the left and the striker did well to squeeze the shotinside the far post from a tight angle.

And he found the back of the net again two minutes before the break off a mis-kick.

With his work done for the night, Darcheville was withdrawn for Novo at the interval and it wasn’t long before he bundled home from close range.

He added his second on 69 minutes — this time with a cheeky back-heel finish from six yards.

HEARTS: Banks, Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves (Ksanavicius 54), Cesnauskis (Mikoliunas 46), Jonsson (Zaliukas 64), Palazuelos, Wallace, Nade, Elliot.

RANGERS: McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker, Dailly, Naismith, Ferguson, Davis (Thomson 85), Adam, Darcheville (Novo 46).

Referee: S Dougal.