Rangers took a massive step towards defending their Scottish Premier League title after opening up a four-point gap on rivals Celtic with a comfortable 4-0 win over ten-man Hearts at Ibrox.

New Rangers owner Craig Whyte, who bought former chairman David Murray’s controlling share in the club on Friday, watched from the stands as his side raced into a 3-0 half-time lead through goals from Nikica Jelavic, Kyle Lafferty and Steven Davis.

Hearts’s Eggert Jonsson was shown a straight red just after the hour mark for a crude challenge on Jelavic before a Ryan Stevenson own goal in the 83rd minute sealed the win.

Celtic have the chance to close the gap when they face Kilmarnock away today but Rangers are now just two wins away from their third successive SPL championship.

David Healy replaced Lafferty late on and came close to getting his name on the score sheet when he his low drive came off the base of the upright with three minutes remaining.

Premier League
Aberdeen 0 - St Johnstone 2
Dundee United 4 - Motherwell 0
Hamilton 1 - Hibernian 0
Inverness 1 - St Mirren 0
Rangers 4 - Hearts 0

Premier League, Today
Kilmarnock-Celtic - 13:45

First Division
Dunfermline 3 - Falkirk 0
Partick Thistle 3 - Raith Rovers 0
Queen of South 3 - Dundee 0
Ross County 3 - Cowdenbeath 0
Stirling 3 - Morton 2

Second Division
Airdrie United 2 - East Fife 2
Alloa 1 - Livingston 3
Brechin 1 - Ayr 0
Dumbarton 0 - Forfar 0
Peterhead 0 - Stenhousemuir 3

Third Division
Arbroath 3 - Elgin 5
Berwick 2 - Albion 2
East Stirling 2 - Annan Athletic 0
Queen’s Park 4 - Montrose 1
Stranraer 3 - Clyde 0

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