Derek McInnes conceded Rangers "didn't play to our level" on his return to Hearts, but could not fault the spirit his side showed to snatch a 2-2 draw.
It was a topsy-turvy Scottish Premiership clash at Tynecastle Park, with Rangers taking an early lead which they threw away in the second half before earning a late point.
Kevin Kelsy gave Rangers a 16th-minute lead from close range, but Hearts responded well without finding a first-half equaliser.
They put things right after the break, though, scoring twice within 12 minutes of the restart through Claudio Braga and Calvin Miller.
However, Olwethu Makhanya rescued a draw in the 89th minute with a looping header, extending Rangers' unbeaten streak to 10 games.
Dujon Sterling had a stoppage-time chance to snatch all three points, only to be denied by Beau Reus, though McInnes acknowledged that would not have been a fair reflection of the match.
"[Hearts] need to defend the set-play at the end if they are going to get their victory, and we've obviously taken advantage," McInnes told BBC Scotland.
"Hearts had two or three top performers tonight. We scored a brilliant goal but didn't do that enough. It was two teams playing very direct. [Josh] McPake and [Calvin] Miller were very strong.
"I thought we were fortunate to go in 1-0 up at half-time. I don't think any team really grabbed the game and controlled the game, but I think Hearts had more opportunities to play in our half.
"It was a very topsy-turvy game. When we did get a chance to transition on them, we never quite looked after the ball well enough.
"Disappointed that from a winning position we never kicked on from that. The last chance at the death, we should score. Findlay Curtis, what a cross he's put in. It was begging to be eaten up, and it's a bit strange how it's not gone into the back of the net.
"The top end of my side, they're very young, and sometimes they need to come through these types of games and atmospheres, but we have to say we didn't play to our level, but the spirit and resilience to keep going.
"We could've gone on to win it; that would've been unfair on Hearts, but we would've obviously taken that."
It was always going to be a tough test for McInnes on his return to Tynecastle, with Hearts now extending their unbeaten streak on home soil in the league to 26 matches (W21 D5), a run which dates back to April 2025.
McInnes has also won just one of his last 10 league away games at Hearts (D5 L5), but the draw at least keeps them within touching distance of leaders Celtic.
Rangers remain second on 24 points, four behind Celtic, who were also held to a 2-2 draw by Dundee United.
Like Rangers, Celtic took an early lead through Camilo Duran, but United roared back to lead by the 31st minute through Zachary Sapsford and Neil Sapsford.
However, Liam Scales' 65th-minute header was enough to secure a point, with both sides missing chances to earn a win late on.