The key reason behind Rangers' best performance of the season

The visitors were aggressive off the ball and incisive on it. The commanding nature of the xG chart doesn’t tell the full story of this match. Rangers had more moments that could’ve topped up the score on another day and conceded very few threatening chances in return.

“We looked dangerous all night. If we can just improve our last shot, our last pass more often, we’ll score more goals,” Beale said.

“We weren’t so slow in our possession in terms of our build-up which we have to be sometimes at Ibrox because we have to be patient.

“We regained the ball and did so many good things well but we should demand more from each other because there are more goals there.

“My big frustration at the weekend was I think we missed eight to 10 chances which I think we should do better with. Again tonight when I watch it back, a lot of the approach play, the defending and the way we played as a team was fantastic but let’s just keep rewarding ourselves in the final third.”

It was the third-highest domestic xG tally recorded by the side all season (3.06xG) after home matches with Aberdeen (6.3) and Ross County (3.47). Certainly, it was the most complete performance in each phase of the game even if Beale has his eyes on more.

For the entire 90 minutes Rangers were excellent on and off the ball. They may have won by a more convincing margin at the same ground earlier this season but for so many reasons, this was so much better.

The away side’s shape in possession was asymmetrical. On the left, Borna Barisic played higher than Glen Kamara. On the right, Malik Tillman sat ahead of his two midfield counterparts. Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Fashion Sakala were fielded in a narrow front three. Sitting high and exploiting any space left by the home team.

Hearts’ pass network is indicative of their ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful approach. Beale said, on seeing the teams, “I thought, they are going to have a right go”. Robbie Neilson had attacking personnel in the starting 11 selected but his team never got a grip on proceedings. Robert Snodgrass was isolated in the middle, and because Rangers so often got numbers around the ball, Hearts’ plan to attack with width never looked profitable.

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Lawrence Shankland’s late shot (0.36xG) was their best effort of six attempted. Barrie McKay’s attempt when one-on-one earlier in the game (0.29xG) became more tricky as the angle narrowed.

Rangers’ best chances ended up in the back of the net. Morelos’ first goal had a chance rating of 0.52xG and his second 0.65xG.

Tillman’s strike from Connor Goldson’s header wasn’t quite so nailed-on. The American scored from a 0.15xG chance which boasted a 0.9 Post-Shot xG (PSxG).

If you need a reminder, xG (expected goals) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal. An xG model uses historical information from thousands of shots with similar characteristics to estimate the likelihood of a goal on a scale between 0 and 1.

PSxG reconsiders that likelihood once the shot has been taken. Taking into account factors such as shot velocity, quality and goalkeeping position.

Morelos enjoyed an excellent all-round game. Two goals will catch the headlines but it was the success of his off-ball work that also made an impact.

He made 16 pressures, five ball recoveries and two blocks.

John Lundstram played his best game in some time. He made 16 ball recoveries, four challenges and four interceptions.

Sakala’s end product wasn’t tidy enough at points, late goal aside, but the Zambian constantly drove through the centre of the pitch in transition.

Other notable mentions go to Kent and Tillman, both magical in moments, Kamara, who continues to look re-energised after the weekend and the defence which propped up the win.

This was a superb team performance. Rangers’ challenge now is to retain that level.