Rangers manager Philippe Clement had made five changes to face Hearts from the side that lost to Queen’s Park while insisting they were the result of squad rotation rather than a response to that damaging Scottish Cup exit.

The Glasgow side had been nine unbeaten domestically before then but were five away from home without a win before beating Dundee United in their previous trip outside Ibrox.

Which Rangers would turn up after heading along the M8?

It was certainly a more familiar line-up than the one that started against their Glasgow rivals and they looked to have returned to their previous form early on.

However, the fragility and inconsistency that has marred their domestic season returned and they can count themselves fortunate to have extended their unbeaten run against Hearts to 18 meetings.

That goalkeeper Jack Butland was man of the match tells its own story.

In the end, captain James Tavernier was able to celebrate his 300th Premiership appearance, making him the first non-Scottish player to reach that total in the competition since its 2013 rebrand, with a victory.

More importantly, Clement and the club’s board will be able to breathe a sigh of relief as the pressure eases on the Belgian and he and his players took a small step towards mending their relationship with their disgruntled fans ahead of St Mirren’s visit next weekend.