Rangers lead newly-crowned Scottish Championship champions Hearts at half time thanks to goals from Kenny Miller and Haris Vuckic at Ibrox.

Nicky Law tested Neil Alexander with a swerving 20-yard volley inside the opening two minutes, but the Hearts goalkeeper got down well to keep out the former Motherwell midfielder's effort.

Rangers enjoyed plenty of early posession, but it was Hearts that nearly took the lead when a short corner routine sent Jamie Walker towards goal, only for Lee McCulloch to make a crucial tackle just as the Heart's man was about to pull the trigger.

However, it was Stuart McCall's side that struck first when referee Bobby Madden allowed the home side an advantage which saw Law find Lee Wallace in space down the left, and the full-back's cross found the arriving Miller, who fired a first-time effort across Alexander and inside the far post.

Hearts threatened to reply instantly through Alim Oezturk's powerful 30-yard free kick, which was beaten away by Rangers goalkeeper Cameron Bell, but only as far as Sam Nicholson, who fired the rebound inches wide of goal.

Rangers weathered the storm, and then went two ahead when Vuckic picked the ball up on the edge of the Hearts area before cutting inside and curling a left-foot effort around Alexander seven minutes before half time.

The hosts may have been on top, but they were reduced to 10 men just before the break when Madden ruled McCulloch to have elbowed Hearts striker Osman Sow.