Hearts retained their six-point lead over Rangers in the Scottish Premier League after a bruising 1-1 draw at Tynecastle.
Rangers, who announced the signing of new manager Paul Le Guen in midweek, had been hoping the Frenchman's eventual arrival would boost their bid to close the gap which separates them from second-placed Hearts - and a chance to play in the Champions League next season.
Le Guen may have been watching in anticipation, however the former Lyon coach, who will take over from Alex McLeish at the end of the season, would have been covering his eyes after only nine minutes when the hosts took the lead through Edgaras Jankauskas.
In what was a well-worked build-up Jankauskas simply had to tap Paul Hartley's right-flank cross past drifting Rangers keeper Ronald Waterreus from six yards out.
Rangers had to wait until the second half to equalise, with Thomas Buffel sliding in to fire the ball past Hearts keeper Craig Gordon, who had made a fantastic save to block the Belgian's first shot.
Both sides had chances to win the match, with Buffel going close and then Hearts defender Robbie Nielson hitting the woodwork from long range late on. With runaway league leaders Celtic otherwise engaged in the League Cup final against Dunfermline, Hearts will be happy with the result which keeps them in with a great chance of Champions League action next season.
With eight games remaining in the SPL, Rangers and Le Guen - who last year quit his job as coach of current Champions League title favourites Lyon - will be desperate to grab the runner-up spot.
