Hearts 0 Rangers 2

THERE is absolutely no need to investigate why Rangers are champions.

All of the compelling evidence was here — and there's nothing for lawyers to fight over.

Chairman Craig Whyte's been engulfed by allegations all week while the club is continually haunted by the spectre of administration.

But as far as Ally McCoist's men are concerned it's business as usual — and how they took care of it in the capital.

Goals either half from Stevie Naismith and sub Nikica Jelavic gave watching supremo Whyte relief at the end of a stormy spell which has seen his reputation and integrity called into question. Gers also hammered home the message to Motherwell and Celtic that, while the actual club might look vulnerable, the team's as resilient and focused as ever.

No points for gutted Hearts boss Paulo Sergio and still no wages for him and many of his players.

In fairness, the Jambos didn't lack in commitment, despite the unsettling cash situation. But they couldn't match the Gers' skill when it mattered.

The home side who were first to threaten with five minutes gone. Ian Black hammered a left foot volley towards Row Z of the Roseburn Stand.

Just a few minutes later Romanian stopper Dorin Goian proved his worth to the visitors with a brilliant sliding block as Rudi Skacel shot from the edge of the box.

Ryan Stevenson then had an 11th-minute header cleared off the line by Naismith from Jamie Hamill's corner.

Gradually Gers settled and in the 21st minute they were celebrating a goal created by self-confessed childhood Jambo Steven Whittaker.

He ran at the home defence from halfway but then the ball got caught in his feet. Whitty though, merely checked himself, looked up and threaded into the box a ball for Naismith.

He was was on it like a flash — and planted a right-foot shot beyond the diving Marian Kello from 12 yards.

Great finish, stunning blow for the Jambos who were conceding their first home SPL goal since July 31, a six-and-a-half-hour stretch.

'That's why we're champions' cried the jubilant Gers fans followed, predictably, by 'F*** the BBC'.

David Templeton scythed down Steven Davis soon after but there was no booking from Calum Murray and that was sheer inconsistency after the ref had earlier booked Whittaker for a similar tackle on the winger.

Two minutes from the break and there was almost an OG equaliser for Hearts. Black's excellent through ball saw Stevenson get in behind Carlos Bocanegra and charge towards Allan McGregor.

The stopper slid in to get a touch — and put the ball beyond his advancing keeper.

For a split second it looked to be going in, but to every Ger's relief the ball slid an inch past the post.

Moments later McGregor was at his inspirational best to parry a Skacel left-foot blast from 25 yards. The game had turned into a war of attrition by the hour mark, with Gers solid thanks to the totally dominant Goian and Hearts stifling the champions at the other end.

McCoist showed sportsmanship after Templeton kicked the ground trying to make a pass and collapsed in agony.

It looked bad and no matter the fact Gers were up the park, their boss instantly appealed for the game to be stopped for treatment.

Whistler Murray responded and after a few moments Templeton recovered. McCoist followed up by checking if he was okay and full marks to him.

Rangers, by now, were more counter-attacking with Kyle Lafferty the lone frontman and Naisy just behind.

McGregor had to respond sharply to get down to a Eggert Jonsson left-foot shot from 20 yards. He spilled it but an offside flag went up on the lurking Stevenson.

For all the stubbornness of the visitors' defending they should've conceded a 65th-minute equaliser.

Great work by Templeton took him to the byeline and from his cut-back Adrian Mrowiec, unmarked and 12 yards out, fired wide.

McCoist threw on Jelavic for Lafferty with 19 minutes left — and got an instant and memorable dividend.

With his first meaningful touch the Croat raced into the box to meet a Bocanegra up and under and proceeded to beat Kello with a sublime side-footed volley into the far corner from 12 yards.

Game over — although there was still time for McGregor to produce two one-on-one saves from Stevenson.

McGregor, Goian, Jelavic. Three very good reasons why Gers are bang on course for four in a row. Case closed.