Hearts pushed Rangers close but came away from Ibrox empty-handed.
The Jambos conceded an early goal with Cyriel Dessers at the back post to turn in James Tavernier’s strike which already appeared to be goalbound.
Neil Critchley’s side gave it a good effort as they tried to get back into it and had decent chances for Kenneth Vargas and Beni Baningime.
But they were unable to draw level and remain 11th in the table with Celtic and Aberdeen to come after the international break.
Vargas end product continues to frustrate
Kenneth Vargas is a player who has shown plenty of potential in a Hearts jersey, particularly last season. He has frustrated early this campaign but did score two goals in his last four league games.
He has previously been criticised for his lack of end product or composure in an around the box, a bad missed chance at Aberdeen the perfect example.
It was on show again here. Firstly he chased down a short John Souttar pass back but seemed more concerned about getting clattered by Jack Butland than getting anything on it.
There was s worse one in the second half after being brilliantly played in by Lawrence Shankland but Vargas’ touch wasn’t great and he ended up striking the post.
Lack of quality in depth
Hearts headed into the latter stages of the match trailing but looking like they could get level. They probably deserved to.
But a quick look to the bench to see what attacking options were on the bench to potentially change things didn’t turn up a lot of answers.
There was 17-year-old striker James Wilson who certainly showed what he can against Hibs but he is still very inexperienced and also slight.
And there was Yan Dhanda, a gifted player but not someone who would come on and give you an injection of pace or a directness.
Musa Drammeh was another young forward on the bench but he has barely been used this season.
What does the future hold for Barrie McKay and Liam Boyce?
Feeding on from that last point is questions about the futures of Barrie McKay and Liam Boyce at Tynecastle.
Despite that shortage of attacking options on the bench, there was no space for either.
Boyce, 33, has appeared to struggle physically and with the pace of the game in the few appearances he has made this campaign.
While 29-year-old winger McKay has failed to impact games and been accused of being disinterested by fans.
Both are out of contract in the summer of 2025 and could leave Hearts in January.
Good signs continue under Neil Critchley
It may have been defeat but the performance was there from Hearts, the second time this week that can be said against far more expensively assembled teams.
It’s a third loss under Critchley and the other one, against Kilmarnock, is the only game where the performance has been really lacking.
Going to Ibrox and performing like that is a sign things will be fine under the Englishman and comes after encouraging wins over St Mirren, Omonia and St Johnstone.
To his credit, Critchley went for it here with attacking changes after doming similar in the derby against Hibs.
One a more worrying point, the next two domestic games are against Celtic and Aberdeen with a Euro away clash in Brugge in between.