A makeshift Rangers side failed to clear the ever-darkening storm clouds gathering over Ibrox as they lost 2-1 to Hearts in what was their third successive home defeat on Saturday.

With player cuts looming large at the crisis-stricken club, Rangers manager Ally McCoist fielded an unfamiliar side, youngster Rhys McCabe handed his debut and Andy Little and Salim Kerkar keeping their places in the starting line-up.

Despite this, the new players seemed to gel, with Steven Davis firing the home side into the lead in first-half stoppage time.

However, the mood darkened when Ian Black’s dipping shot hauled Hearts level before Jamie Hammill put Hearts in front in the 79th minute as he slotted home the rebound after Allan McGregor had saved his initial effort from the penalty spot.

The defeat could prove to be the final appearance for several Rangers players, with administrators likely to announce job cuts on Monday.

It means rivals Celtic’s lead at the top has widened to 21 points, despite their 17-game winning run in the Scottish Premier League coming to an end after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Third-placed Motherwell are now within three points of Rangers following their 2-0 win over Dunfermline.

At Pittodrie, Celtic took a 28th-minute lead when Charlie Mulgrew picked out Kris Commons and his pass allowed Anthony Stokes to dance around the onrushing Jason Brown and slot the ball home for his 19th goal of the season.

However, the Dons were level a minute before the break when Scott Vernon found Gavin Rae and the midfielder’s shot deflected off Celtic debutant Andre Blackman and looped over Fraser Forster into the net.