WHEN Steven Gerrard was asked about Hearts and a potential title challenge on Friday afternoon, the Rangers boss insisted the Jambos had to be taken seriously given their impressive start to the Premiership campaign.

Now, he will hope that this victory over Craig Levein’s side will be the moment that kick-starts the Light Blues' own bid for the top flight silverware this term.

The win against Rapid Vienna in midweek saw Rangers raise the roof at Ibrox. This performance will raise confidence and expectation levels once again.

Hearts arrived in Glasgow as the form outfit in the Premiership but with a point to prove. It was Rangers that earned all three, and did so emphatically.

Three goals in a half hour spell won it for Gerrard’s side as Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Scott Arfield found the net. It wasn’t just far, far better than anything they produced against Livingston seven days previously, it was up there with anything the Gers have shown this term.

The reaction from the Ibrox crowd at half-time said it all. Come the end of a terrific Premiership clash, they had plenty to sing and be optimistic about.

The positives were plentiful for Gerrard, not least the showing of winger Kent. It was the win that meant the most to the Ibrox boss, though, as the Gers swept Hearts aside.

As Rangers looked to replicate the performance and the result from Thursday night, Gerrard stuck with the same starting line-up. Once again, those entrusted with the jersey didn’t let their manager down.

Ahead after just three minutes, Rangers never looked back. By the end of an enthralling first half, the job was done and the points were won for the Light Blues.

It was Kent that got Gerrard’s side off and running and he did so in slightly strange circumstances. As Hearts pushed up aiming to defend a Tavernier free-kick from the left, Morelos burst in behind and collected the cross.

The visitors stopped, seemingly expecting the offside flag to save them, but linesman Frank Connor remained motionless as Morelos squared the ball to Kent. The winger was left with the simplest task as he converted into an empty net and Ibrox erupted.

It was the dream start for Rangers but their lead could have been eradicated, twice, before it was doubled. Thankfully for Gerrard, keeper Allan McGregor was alert and on form.

The first save came after Hearts worked the ball down the left and Steven Naismith found himself with only his former Ibrox team-mate to beat. He couldn’t.

A terrific stop with his legs was followed by another moments later as McGregor denied Uche Ikpeazu after he outmuscled Joe Worrall and fired in a shot on the angle. That was as close as Hearts would come.

The remainder of the half was all about Rangers as they swarmed forward in numbers, scored twice and created another handful of chances. It was high-energy, high-tempo stuff and Hearts had no answers.

Keeper Zdenek Zlamal saved well from Jon Flanagan after another sweeping Rangers move involving Tavernier and Kent before the Liverpool kid scooped a shot over on the rebound.

There was a sense that the second goal was coming for Gerrard’s side and it was Morelos who got it. Daniel Candeias nicked the ball from Demetri Mitchell but his forward partner still had plenty to do as he rifled the ball into the top corner for his eleventh goal of the campaign.

Kent was causing Hearts problems every time he got on the ball and he was denied twice more in quick succession. The first came after Arfield flicked a Flanagan cross into his path, while he couldn’t finish off an incisive break that started with Lassana Coulibaly bursting forward from a Hearts set piece.

The Jambos had got to the half hour mark without suffering another blow but the one from which there was no recovery came minutes later. This one clinched the win for Rangers.

A Tavernier cross from the right looked to be too deep but Morelos did brilliantly to knock it back into the area. Zlamal could only parry the ball into the path of Arfield as he converted from close range to cap a superb first half showing from the Light Blues.

Gerrard would have wanted to ensure his side didn’t take their foot off the gas after the restart and there was no sign of Rangers looking to cruise over the finishing line as Morelos and Kent again forced Zlamal into action.

It was the second yellow card shown to Michael Smith, picked up for blatantly blocking Jon Flanagan, that was the next problem for Levein, though. Hearts were far from their best, but Rangers were in full flow.

There was at least a goal for the travelling Jambos to take back to Edinburgh as Jimmy Dunne headed home an Olly Lee free-kick. That was as good as it would get, though.

Hearts may be entering the international break top of the table but the chasing pack are now closing in. The five points that Rangers are adrift won’t overly concern Gerrard right now, and neither will the deficit of two to Celtic.

If his side are to challenge for the Premiership this term, this was exactly the kind of game they had to win and test they had to pass. The manner of the performance and fact it was done so with relative ease will give Gerrard and the Ibrox crowd almost as much satisfaction as the victory.