Stuart McCall revealed captain Lee McCulloch apologised to him and the Rangers players after being sent off in the 2-1 win over runaway Scottish Championship winners Hearts at Ibrox . Goals from striker Kenny Miller and the returning midfielder Haris Vuckic had the home side two ahead and cruising before McCulloch was shown a straight red card by referee Bobby Madden for fouling striker Osman Sow . It left the 10-man Govan side to fight a rearguard battle in the second half and , although Jambos striker Genero Zeefuik reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute , Rangers held on to move into second place in the league , three points ahead of Hibernian with a game in hand over the Leith club . Lee McCulloch was sent off during Rangers ' crucial 2-1 victory against Hearts in the Scottish Championship . Staurt McCall says the Gers captain apologised to him as well as the players after the incident . The Gers boss said : 'Believe it or not I have n't seen it again and I did n't see it live - all I was interested in was Zeefuik going through the middle - but I spoke to Bobby coming off and he said he caught him with his elbow . 'Jig ( McCulloch ) came in after the game and apologised to me and the team so obviously it must have merited a red card . ' The former Rangers midfielder paid tribute to Gers supporters in the crowd of 40,521 who willed their team on to a third successive win when they were down to 10 men . He said : 'In the second half , that was the first time for a long , long time , since I was playing , that I got goosebumps out there . McCulloch walks off the pitch after he was shown the red card on Easter Sunday . 'The fans deserved that ( win ) but I thought the players deserved their applause coming off the park because you need both together to be a success . 'It was pleasing in a lot of ways . We set out with a game plan to stop Hearts playing because they are a good side , no doubt about that . 'Obviously it was two terrific goals , but I thought the tempo and passing in the first half was outstanding . ' I thought the second half was just about guts , desire , being a good team-mate , so it was a hard shift but a nervy finish . ' Man of the match Nicky Law also noted the improving relationship between players and supporters . The Rangers midfielder said : 'The crowd just lifted everyone and the atmosphere was as good as it has been since I signed at the club and Hearts fans played their part in that as well . 'Probably for the first time the fans have been right behind us and united as one , which it has n't been for a while and that was great to see . 'We know that has been down to ourselves in large parts because it has n't been good enough . 'But we hope that they see the effort we are putting in and hopefully we can achieve the aim that we started the season with and repay the fans . 'It was a huge win for us . Three wins on the spin now and the boys are buzzing . ' McCall has paid tribute to the 40,521 Rangers fans who made it to Ibrox for the game . It was Hearts ' first away defeat in the league all season and head coach Robbie Neilson refused to be too downbeat . He said : ' I thought we dominated in the second half without creating a lot of chances . I do n't think we did enough to win . 'But the pleasing think is I am sitting here at Ibrox , having lost 2-1 and everyone is devastated . 'We have to take a step back and look at the big picture . 'We are 23 points clear at the top of the Championship and we are guaranteed top level football next year . 'So I do n't want to be too down . I spoke to the players after the game and told them to put it into perspective . 'When they walk out of Ibrox they should have their heads held high because they are champions and it does n't matter what happens in one game , it is a 36-game league and they have been the best team . ' Kenny Miller ( left ) celebrates scoring for Rangers against Championship winners Hearts on Sunday .
Lee McCulloch was shown a straight red card after fouling Osman Sow . The Reds were reduced to 10 men when the Senegal striker scored his second goal of the game in stoppage time and they went on to win 3-2.