RANGERS failed to boost their hopes of clinching second place in the Bank of Scotland PremierLeague when they were held to a goalless draw by Hearts at Ibrox. A win would have allowed them to move eight points clear of one of their main rivals for the runners-up spot - and a crack at the Champions League next season. But Aberdeen's win over St Mirren means they are now Rangers' closest challengers.

David Weir could have fired Rangers into an early lead with a close-range effort but Hearts goalkeeper Steve Banks managed to tip the ball over his crossbar. Rangers had the best of the early chances and Barry Ferguson set up Libor Sionko for the shot but he blasted well over.

Rangers should have been ahead midway through the first half. A Charlie Adam corner was nodded into the six-yard box by Kris Boyd and the ball broke to Sionko - but he somehow managed to prod wide from a few yards.

Barry Ferguson did have the ball in the back of the net with 12 minutes to go - following good play between Nacho Novo and substitute Chris Burke - only for Ibrox to erupt in fury when the effort was ruled offside.

Adam was then booked for a foul on Neil McCann, as tempers threatened to spill over. Rangers looked by far the team most likely to snatch the win, but they failed to find the killer touch that would allow them to put even more daylight between themselves and Hearts and had to settle for a point.