AS Don Robertson waved a second yellow card at Robbie Neilson – provoked by the Hearts manager’s sarcastic applause of his first – it looked like Rangers may have just got over the line.

An exciting opening period was dovetailed by a more recently recognisable drab half of football. But Neilson's dismissal roused the home support again. It felt then that this would be another game in which the stands helped carry home a result.

Steven Gerrard’s side though had left themselves vulnerable. Missed chance after chance and a slowly deteriorating dominance meant that when Craig Halkett capitalised on Allan McGregor’s mistake in the 90th minute - the feeling around the ground was as apathetic as it was frustrated.

More dropped points, and perhaps more crucially, more missed opportunity.

A first-half that provoked so much encouragement, the team's best performance on a chance-creation front of the season.

None of which is now the talking point. A drop in intensity mixed in with careless finishing opened up an avenue for Hearts to respond.

Gerrard judged that his team didn't look themselves after half-time - but within the context of this season, it was an accurate representation of where they are.

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The first half had shown that level referenced by the manager. 

Starting Ianis Hagi as a No.10 allowed the hosts to create an abundance of central overloads – while a composed approach on the ball invited Hearts to press and then often be played through.

Possession moved vertically with intention - the visitor's 5-4-1 shape without the ball wasn’t given the luxury of time to shuffle across.

Alfredo Morelos was twice wasteful when provided for by Scott Wright – Leon Balogun was also stopped superbly by Craig Gordon in quick succession.

More notably, the approach when possession turned over was a whole lot more organised and successful. Joe Aribo slid back to form a midfield three if Hearts made it beyond the first line – but his high starting position meant that was rarely required.

The deadlock was broken quite spectacularly. A ball from Connor Goldson into the impressive Hagi stretched the pitch and unsettled the visiting defence.

Hagi’s cross was cleared but arriving late was John Lundstram. He looked up, set himself and beat Craig Gordon with a powerful, placed effort.

The performance was his third successive man of the match award - an accolade he claimed with the opening 45 alone. He was positive and quick in possession and protective out of it.

Gerrard said the summer signing is epitomising what he wants on the pitch on RangersTV - many more need to follow.

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The maintenance of an intensity Rangers have struggled to display was vital. When Scott Wright asked the question of a foul three minutes before the break his manager broke to the edge of his penalty area, barking at him to chase the ball instead.

He knew another goal would be key – it was never forthcoming.

Neither, after half-time, was that aggression which had led to such a favourable performance to that point.

Halkett’s late goal bookended a top overall performance. Playing a back three allowed the former Ibrox youth product to drop and enact the role of Morelos’ shadow throughout. Not allowing him to overload the midfield or bring his team up the park.

Regardless, the Colombian should undeniably have scored at least once – missing a clear chance 10 minutes from time. He stayed on the pitch when a substitution seemed wiser and remains frustratingly below the level capable of.

Roofe also clipped the post after entering play – but signs at the other end suggested that an equaliser was realistic. Barrie McKay was stopped one-on-one by McGregor who also held on from Devlin soon after.

Halkett’s pounce after McGregor’s mistake was the moment, but Rangers’ No.1 has earned enough points to merit forgiveness for his role in dropping two.

At half-time Rangers were in a position to give their best 90 minutes of the season - but also a chance to show the best version of themselves.

That level still remains starkly absent.