The Jambos are unbeaten in 10 matches and had high hopes of causing an upset. Still, they were torn apart by the ruthless visitors, three other plans led out for offside, and a penalty award overturns following VAR reviews.
Rangers – for whom Malik Tillman scores the second goal – now won 10 of their 11 matches since Beale took custody and are unbeaten in their last 13, although they stay nine points adrift of metropolis rival Celtic at the top of the cinch Premiership.
Hearts created five modifications to the flank that withdrew 0-0 against Livingston on Sunday. James Hill, Robert Snodgrass, Barrie McKay, Josh Ginnelly, and Garang Kuol covered Nathaniel Atkinson, Orestis Kiomourtzoglou, Cammy Devlin, Stephen Humphrys, and Yutaro Oda.
Beale creates two alterations to the Rangers team that beat St Johnstone at the weekend as Ryan Jack and Todd Cantwell fell out to be returned by John Lundstram and Fashion Sakala.
The Colombian striker does not reject, however, and just two minutes later, he died the gridlock when he bounced in from a Ryan Kent travel after the winger was released down the left by a quickly-taken free-kick.
Hearts work to get a foothold in the game, and Morelos fired a low-angled shot across the face of the goal in the 12th minute.
The hosts’ first opportunity came via a counter-attack in the 22nd minute when McKay put through on goal following an excellent job by Lawrence Shankland and Kuol. Goalkeeper Allan McGregor applied himself to make an important save.
At the other back, Stephen Kingsley – after passing the ball away in the Rangers half – ran back to block a goal-bound action from Sakala on the line.
Sakala did see the net in the 28th minute behind being dropped through on goal by Kent following a beautiful flowing attack, but it rules out for offside after a VAR check.
After Morelos forced a brilliant keep from Zander Clark, the Rangers folded their lead in the 35th minute when Tillman joined the ball home from close range after Connor Goldson had led Borna Barisic’s cross from the left-back into the risk area.
Rangers finish a top first half on the front foot, with Kent visiting a close-range effort deflected onto the post before Lundstram forces another superb hold from Clark with a ferocious 20-yard walkout.
Hearts outplays – created two substitutions for the start of the second half as current signings Kuol and Hill replace by Alan Forrest and Kiomourtzoglou.
Ranger’s grants, a good three minutes after the restart when Kent slipped as he tried to go past Alex Cochrane, but behind a VAR review, the decision overturns, and the winger book for diving.
The guests frustrate again by VAR in the 56th minute when Sakala’s other goal rules out after running onto a Glen Kamara pass to slot beyond Clark.
The third goal finally came in the 67th minute when Morelos drummed in at the back seat from a Sakala cross, and it was entitled to stand after another VAR check.
The visitor’s three projects led offside yet still prevailed with plenty to spare as Robbie Neilson’s bold attacking gameplan backfired.
Alfredo Morelos earned either side of Malik Tillman’s strike to keep Rangers within nine points of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
“I still want more,” said Beale.
“We could score more. [Hearts goalkeeper] Zander Clark, good game, but we are sometimes wasteful. We did good things well and should demand more from each other.”
Hearts’ chastening loss trims their gift in third, with St Mirren six points back with a game in hand.
Neilson’s front-loaded line-up – including a thin midfield three of Robert Snodgrass, Garang Kuol, and Barrie McKay – lifted eyebrows before kick-off and soon provoked sighs of anguish from the home support as Rangers seized upon the hosts’ vulnerabilities.
It was 2-0 running on five or six by the holiday. Beale’s men took more irregularly than 10 minutes to surge forward as Ryan Kent steamed above Kuol inside the bin and stood up a cross for Morelos to run past Zander Clark.
The guests had efforts from Morelos, and Fashion Sakala ruled out for the offside on either side of the opener. However, they deservedly doubled their advantage when a short corner playback to Borna Borisic. Connor Goldson kept the Croat’s cross alive at the back post, and Tillman supplied a professional hooked finish.
Hearts were twice held by the woodwork – preferably from Kent, then from a miscued Snodgrass title – before Rangers’ hat-trick of disallowed walkouts was conducted after the break with Sakala again foiled by the flag.
Having squeezed his line-up midway through the first half, Neilson substituted the useless Kuol and Hill at the interval, but there was no turning the tide of Rangers’ distinction.
