STUART McCALL revealed he is learning to trust his players more after Rangers extended their unbeaten run under him to five matches with a 2-1 win over Hearts.

First-half goals from Kenny Miller and Haris Vuckic put them in a strong position, before a late Genero Zeefuik reply made for a nervy conclusion. The Ibrox side, however, held on to move three points clear of Hibernian in second place in the SPFL Championship with a game in hand.

"We scored two terrific goals, the tempo and passing we showed in the first half was terrific, and in the second half it was about guts, desire and being a good team-mate," said McCall. "I am beginning to trust them the more we work with them and see them playing. But there is still a long way to go. We rammed that home after the game. We have done nothing. Take the belief, take the confidence, take the momentum, but you have got to keep doing it week in week out. They also know that players that have come into the side that have done well. They have got to keep going if they want to stay in the side.

"All in all, it was a team effort and we needed that today. Hearts had won nine on the bounce, they aren't champions for no reason. But we just kept going and dug in and we got blocks, got headers. I am very proud of the team and the fans as well."

Nicky Law, the Rangers midfielder, revealed that McCall's appointment had had an immediate restorative effect. "The message the manager came in with was to forget the season so far as it had been so poor," he said. "He urged us to look forward to what is a mini-season and in the last three or four games we have taken that message on. Three wins on the spin rams that home and now the boys are buzzing in there.

"The crowd lifted everyone and the atmosphere was as good as it has been since I signed for the club. It was a proper atmosphere and for the first time they were right behind us. It was as one and united which it hasn't been for a while. That was great to see."

The only downside for Rangers on an otherwise positive day was the red card shown to Lee McCulloch shortly before half-time for an elbow on Hearts' Osman Sow. The player apologised to his manager and team-mates for his actions, and McCall revealed he would view the incident again before considering the next course of action.

"I've not seen it yet but Bobby [Madden, the referee] said he had caught him with his elbow," added McCall. "Jig [McCulloch] then came in and apologised to myself and the team. So it must have merited a red card. I will sit down and have a look at it myself and then speak to him."

This was Hearts' first away defeat of the season but head coach Robbie Neilson insisted his players had no reason to feel too disappointed.

"The pleasing thing is we've come to Ibrox and lost 2-1 and everyone is devastated," he said. "You have to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. We're sitting 23 points clear at the top of the Championship and are guaranteed top-level football next year. The players were devastated but they could walk out of Ibrox with their heads held high as they are champions. It doesn't matter what happens in one game. It's a 36-game league and we've been the best team. "

Neilson has watched with interest the jockeying for positions ahead of the play-offs and is glad he and his players won't be involved.

"They are going to be hard games," he added. "I went to watch Hibs versus Queen of the South on Saturday. Hibs have been on a good run until the last couple of games. Queens are a good team. Falkirk got another good result. Rangers have picked up massively. Then in the Premiership, apart from St Mirren, the other teams have kicked on recently. So it will be interesting. I'm just glad I won't be involved!"