WHEN Mark Warburton left Tynecastle in November, the Rangers manager found himself at the centre of a storm like no other he had experienced at Ibrox.

He will be bracing himself once again. This campaign has been far from plain sailing for Rangers, but the waters are more than choppy now.

Having suffered three Old Firm defeats and lost away to Aberdeen and Hearts already this term, Warburton needed a big performance, and an even bigger result, from his side. He got neither.

The 2-0 defeat Rangers suffered to Robbie Neilson’s side was bad. This, though, was even worse. It started poorly, picked up slightly and then went downhill at an alarming rate.

After facing some tough questions from the Ibrox board earlier this month, Warburton now faces trial by the Light Blue jury. The verdict could be damning.

A trip to Tynecastle can never be considered a simple assignment but, given the changes that Ian Cathro had made to his side and the form that the Jambos had been in, Rangers had to fancy their chances on a cold, crisp night in the Capital.

Warburton admitted pre-match that it was a step into the unknown in many ways as he prepared to face a side that had been drastically overhauled since Cathro took charge for the first time at Ibrox. The requirement for victory was still the same, though.

As Rangers looked to take another small step towards second spot in the Premiership, Cathro took a giant leap forward in the dugout. This was as good an evening for the 30-year-old as it was bad for Warburton.

It started well for Hearts and ended even better. Ahead after just four minutes, they had the points wrapped up before the hour mark.

Spurred on by a pumped-up home crowd, the hosts burst out of the traps and caught Rangers cold. It was a high-tempo, high-energy approach and Warburton’s side couldn’t get going.

The Gers failed to react to a quick free-kick after a foul from Clint Hill on Ismael Goncalves and Andraz Struna had time and space on the right flank. He swung a cross into the area and Krystian Nowak rose at the back post to head the ball across Wes Foderingham and into the net.

Rangers were up against it and it could have got worse before Warburton’s side showed any glimmer that it would get better. Midfielder Malaury Martin twice came close from range as Hearts stormed forward in search of a crucial second goal.

It was frantic and frenetic stuff at times, the quality low but the entertainment value high as Rangers began to grow into the encounter.

A mistake from Lennard Sowah allowed Kenny Miller to set up Martyn Waghorn but the striker saw his low shot saved by Jack Hamilton.

The all-action start from Hearts took its toll as the minutes ticked on and Rangers had to make the most of the drop off. They still took chances at the back as they were caught out on a couple of occasions but they ended the first half level.

Barrie McKay came close with a sliced effort that whistled wide of target and Hill headed over from a corner but the goal eventually came for the Gers.

It was a moment that keeper Hamilton won’t want to see again as a fumbled James Tavernier’s corner. The ball dropped to Emerson Hyndman and the midfielder rifled it into the roof of the net.

The American has made a positive first impression in Light Blue and his intervention here gave Rangers hope as the teams returned to the dressing room with mixed emotions.

Within minutes of the restart, the feelings could not have been more contrasting. As Hearts celebrated, Rangers were deflated.

Once again, the damage was self-inflicted as they attempted to play out from the back. Foderingham’s decision to give the ball to Andy Halliday was the wrong one, and the midfielder let it  run away from him. Jamie Walker capitalised, his sweetly struck strike finding the bottom corner of the net as the Gers’ inquest began.

It was soon time for another as Hearts hit a third. It started with another smartly taken free-kick and seconds later the ball was in the net, Don Cowie converting at the back post after a direct run and cross from Bjorn Johnsen.

Warburton turned to his bench as Harry Forrester replaced Waghorn and Josh Windass took over from Hyndman. The decision to remove Hyndman from the action didn’t go down well with some Gers fans.

The frustration soon turned to anger as three became four for Hearts. Foderingham failed to deal with a Cowie cross as Johnsen challenged him in the air and Walker was on hand to convert for his second goal of the night.

It was now mission impossible for Rangers. Even when they had the faintest of hopes, it was snatched away quicker than it arrived as the offside flag denied Forrester after Jason Holt’s shot was saved.

The home crowd demanded another goal and it almost arrived in spectacular style as Foderingham prevented Walker’s free-kick finding the top corner and Sowah’s long-range effort rose just over the bar.

The fifth didn’t arrive for Hearts. Their points had been secured and the damage had been done to Rangers. Only time will tell how much has been inflicted on Warburton