After the storm, some calm for Rangers. Their response to the lingering frustration of Sunday's chaotic Old Firm defeat was a performance imbued with ingredients absent for much of the miserable month of March.
Steven Gerrard's side richly deserved a first victory in six games. Positive and incisive from the first whistle, despite the absence of Parkhead sinner Alfredo Morelos, they had too much invention for Hearts to handle.
Ibrox must have wished it could have witnessed the same when the Premiership and Scottish Cup were still active aims.
Steven Gerrard's Rangers got back on track with a win over Hearts on Wednesday night
Jermain Defoe scored his sixth goal for Rangers and the home side went on to win 3-0
Even so, there was some significance in this success. It was among Rangers' best performances since the winter break and at least suggested a desire to make Celtic wait as long as possible for their now inevitable coronation.
If the Parkhead side defeat Livingston on Saturday, Gerrard's men will need a positive result at Motherwell the following day to push that date beyond the top-flight split.
More in this vein would help their cause. There was no sign of the ineffectiveness that had seen too many points leaked since the winter break. Chances were created and taken with equal aplomb.
Jermain Defoe got the ball rolling with his sixth goal for Rangers on his first start since late February. A sparky presence throughout, Gerrard will rely on his input while Morelos sees out a four-match ban.
Connor Goldson quickly increased the lead before Scott Arfield wrapped things up early in the second half. A clean sheet was no less welcome as their grip on second place was tightened.
Gerrard will now seek similar intent over their remaining six fixtures as he weighs up who should be retained in his squad for next term.
For counterpart Craig Levein, however, this was an evening of precious few positives. Defensive errors combined with a lack of genuine forward menace. Much better will be needed if they are to emerge from Saturday's Edinburgh derby still as the capital's highest-ranked team.
Rangers' decision to contest the two-match SFA suspension offered to Ryan Kent for lashing out at Scott Brown meant the Liverpool loanee was able to start again here. His fate will be determined at a tribunal hearing today.
Connor Goldson added the second goal to put Gerrard's side in cruise control
Even so, the Old Firm fall-out forced a rejig. Morelos and Andy Halliday were already consigned to bans, while Gerrard dropped Ross McCrorie and Daniel Candeias to the bench.
Defoe and Steven Davis - the two flagship January signings - were introduced alongside Jon Flanagan and Glen Kamara. It was a rare sighting of Flanagan, whose only previous appearance of 2019 had come in a Scottish Cup win over Cowdenbeath.
The manner in which Rangers' ten men had contested Sunday's derby ensured
