Rangers earned three more Scottish Premiership points with a hard-fought and well-earned win over Hearts at Tynecastle.

Abdallah Sima's first-half strike was the difference as Philippe Clement earned a first away win at one of the Scottish Premiership's trickier away venues. The visitors had opportunities to add a second but Danilo, Ridvan and Sima himself all passed up chances to increase the margin of victory.

A few blocks, well-defended set-pieces and important interventions from Jack Butland secured the points for Clement's men who were able to hold onto all three points. The result ensures back-to-back wins and clean sheets after successive draws had followed the most recent international break.

Here, the Rangers Review breaks down the game's big talking points...

Sima shows his worth again 

Slotting home his 12th goal of the season in all competitions having returned to form in front of goal with a double at the weekend, Sima is one piece of summer business that certainly has worked in Rangers’ favour. Time will tell whether Danilo can provide the domestic numbers needed to win a league title but alongside a central striker’s numbers throughout a season, this team have consistently lacked goal-threat from wide areas. Sima has fulfilled the role of an industrious winger under Philippe Clement in recent weeks but following conversations ahead of the visit from St Mirren last Sunday, a selfish streak seems to have reemerged. “He’s a really nice lad but he’s sometimes not egoistic enough for me to be decisive himself. He always wants to give the last pass to others before he shoots himself,” Clement had commented after his double. Three goals in reply justify the point made in private. 

The Senegalese international's movement for the goal typified the threat he brings wide on the left, capable of making second-striker runs and going long when Danilo pulls short. Initially in the blindspot of right-wing back Nathaniel Atkinson when James Tavernier broke through the pitch, the 22-year-old quickly sprang into the space ahead and it was not before he was beyond Stephen Kingsley that Hearts’ No.3 even clocked the dangerous run. The finish, as has been the case in recent months, was typically clinical.

How did Ridvan do?

The Turkish left-back is still to make the left-back slot his own a year and a half on from his arrival. Pitched in against the team who targeted his height in the reverse fixture, when Lawrence Shankland peeled wide to head home an opener, the focus was firmly placed on Ridvan from the off. It was clear from the game’s early moments that Hearts would again look to target Ridvan in the air with Sima and Leon Balogun moving over to assist whenever possible. An early turnover that conceded a dangerous counterattack didn’t appear to visibly shake his nerves and some better moments followed on the ball throughout the opening exchanges, despite some over-commitment in one-on-one duels. Ridvan could well have found the net when released in the box before the hour and should have when following in a John Lundstram shot soon after. Over the course, we probably didn’t learn too much, Ridvan has redeeming qualities alongside parts of his game which have ensured a restricted role since his arrival, hence Dujon Sterling coming on for the final exchanges.

READ MORE: Inside Ross McCausland's rise from Antrim to the Rangers first team

Ross McCausland’s continued rise

Watching the game as an outsider, you wouldn’t have pinpointed McCausland as the man making only his third senior start for Rangers. The Northern Irish winger continued to play with a confidence and assurance that’s allowed him to show off his qualities ever since being handed a chance under the new management team. Gliding with the ball from the right, although guilty on occasion of not releasing possession quickly enough, the 20-year-old received under pressure and made things happen. While Clement has been vocal about the need to protect a player only starting to make inroads in the professional game, this Rangers team look brighter, quicker and better with McCausland situated on the right wing.

Are long balls becoming an issue?

Hearts would’ve been the happier team when the clock hit 30 minutes. They’d fashioned the game’s best chance, when Tavernier was forced into an impressive goalline clearance, and conceded little in the other direction. The visitors were looking long for a reason, however, and when able to break through pressure for Sima’s goal, their approach was vindicated. Without natural ball progressors in midfield and full-backs staying deep in the build-up, Clement’s men can appear one-dimensional at points when the opponents press and refuse to grant territory. Sima is a natural target man to play over pressure and without much time to flesh out ideas on the training pitch and a desire to attack quickly, Clement appears happy giving up control at points. However, the Ibrox side must be careful they don’t fall into a trap that hampered Giovanni van Bronckhorst towards the end of his Rangers spell: a team not capable of gaining territory and too easy to press. It’s an issue Nico Raskin’s return should alleviate but also a structural decision with natural pros and cons. Time should, hopefully, improve the dynamic.

Butland’s moments and Danilo’s chances

The visitors had chances to kill this game off when one ahead but relied on a couple of typical big Jack Butland moments when a threat arose in their own box. Danilo has struggled for consistency in front of goals in recent games and missed two excellent chances to make it two. The Brazilian's movement and link-up play remain impressive and he remains not long into his Ibrox career on the basis of minutes played. With that said, more goals need to follow to guarantee the consistency of goals this team requires at the top end of the park. They say it's a better sign for strikers to find goalscoring positions and miss than not at all. At the moment, Clement could do with his No.99 rediscovering a better touch in front of goal.