Heart of Midlothian secured a massive victory against Rangers at Tynecastle Park on Monday night, coming from behind with second half strikes from Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland to move three points clear at the Premiership summit.
Coming from behind after Dujon Sterling's first half opener; Kingsley and Shankland both netted stunning volleys in a performance packed with grit, character, and resolve.
With just three games left in the split, the result puts Hearts in the driver's seat ahead of Saturday's trip to Motherwell and Fir Park.
Derek McInnes made two changes to the side that defeated Hibs in the Edinburgh derby last time out; Alexandros Kyziridis and Islam Chesnokov replacing Landry Kabore and Jordi Altena as Hearts shaped up in an aggressive 4-4-2 formation.
In a frantic opening ten minutes, set to the backdrop of Tynecastle at it's intimidating best, Hearts carved out the first chance from a set-play: Craig Halkett leaping highest to meet the free-kick, but his header went over Jack Butland's crossbar.
Rangers responded promptly, with Nico Raskin cleaving his way into the maroon box down the left side - his curling effort requiring Alex Schwolow to stick a paw out to turn it behind.
Both sides were seeing the ball, but it was Rangers who drew first blood after 22 minutes with the opener. James Tavernier's long throw was headed down by Stuart Findlay into the path of Dujon Sterling.
Sterling met it on the volley and, courtesy of a big deflection off Michael Steinwender, it looped over the head of Schwolow and into the net - a swift response from the men in maroon was required.
After a fairly even start, Rangers started to gain control of possession, Hearts turning the ball over too easily, with the visitors' explosive pace giving the Jambos no shortage of worries as the half-hour mark ticked by.
Hearts did earn a promising set-piece within range of goal, but Stuart Findlay's header crashed into the gloves of Butland as Hearts continued to the hunt for that elusive equaliser.
HT: Heart of Midlothian 0-1 Rangers
In the sole change after the break; Islam Chesnokov made way for derby hero Blair Spittal as Derek McInnes shuffled the pack with 45 minutes to go.
It was a brighter start compared to how the first half ended, with Lawrence Shankland making headway into the Rangers area via a delightful backheel pass from Kyziridis; but a block from Nasser Djiga diverted away the danger.
Moments later and the Jambos went again; Baningime sliding Braga in under pressure from two blue shirt, sneaking away a low strike that forced Jack Butland into action to claim the ball.
The pressure was starting to mount, and Hearts were soon rewarded for their spirit, with the equaliser arriving in style thanks to Stephen Kingsley with 53 minutes on the Tynecastle clock.
Good running from Spittal on the edge of the box saw him thread the ball across to a waiting Kyziridis on the right - the Greek winger wasted no time in getting a shot off, his effort cracking off the post and into the path of Stephen Kingsley, who arrowed the ball past Butland to send all four stands into raptures.
The chase was on, with Rangers throwing two punches in the aftermath; the first going astray as Tavernier ballooned his dig from distance high and wide, before Alex Schwolow blocked the second by claiming Emmanuel Fernandez' header at the corner.
Hearts had the bit between their teeth now, and Kyziridis was causing all sorts of problems with his running, nearly bagging Hearts their second after 67 minutes as he nutmegged Fernandez before forcing Butland into another diving save.
The Jambos completed the turnaround bang on the 70 minute mark, and what a goal it was by Lawrence Shankland; the skipper doing what he's done so many times before.
In a crowded goalmouth, great running from Stephen Kingsley kept it alive as he smashed an inviting ball across the face of goal from the byline, with Shankland pouncing and connecting with his first touch as he smashed the ball beyond a hapless Butland.
Backed on by a Gorgie crowd that must have broken every decibal record the city of Edinburgh has ever seen - Hearts almost had a quickfire third from a creative corner routine that saw the ball worked to a waiting Spittal on the edge of the area, with Butland at full stretch to turn it behind.
With five minutes to go, there was a slender lead to guard, with Landry Kabore, Jamie McCart, and Frankie Kent introduced to the game as the Jambos prepared for a white-knuckle ride to the finish line.
Rangers threw everything at Hearts, but the Gorgie stood firm, and with seven minutes of injury time to play - it was going to take everything to get the job done.
And do it they did, with Heart of Midlothian securing yet another massive three points.
Hearts: Schwolow, Kingsley (Kent 89'), Halkett, Baningime, Shankland (Altena 90+3'), Braga (Kabore 82'), Steinwender, Findlay, Leonard, Kyziridis (McCart 82'), Chesnokov (Spittal 45')
Subs: Fulton, Kent, McCart, Kabore, Spittal, Forrest, Altena, Kerjota, Mato
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Olsen (Gassama 69'), Chermiti, Diomande (Miovski 83'), Sterling (Rommens 75'), Djiga, Fernandez, Chukwuani, Raskin (Naderi 75'), Moore (Aasgaard 75')
Subs: Kelly, Aarons, Barron, Aasgaard, Antman, Naderi, Gassama, Rommens, Miovski
Attendance: 18,831
