Make or break for Rangers - what next in Scottish title race?

ByNick McPheatBBC Sport Scotland

Published35 minutes ago

Not even a week ago, many had stuck the favourites' tag on Rangers for the Scottish Premiership title as the top three headed into their first round of post-split fixtures.

Then Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell rocked up at Ibrox.

The Fir Park side lived up to their billing as kingmakers in this gripping three-way fight for Scotland's top-flight crown by stunning Danny Rohl's men in an epic five-goal thriller.

Celtic had done their job 24 hours earlier, dispatching Falkirk 3-1, before Hearts fought back to overcome nine-man Hibernian in a fraught Edinburgh derby.

That means Rangers, now in third, travel to the capital for a Tynecastle showdown on Monday (17:30 BST) with a four-point deficit to make up on the leaders.

If Martin O'Neill's Celtic take care of business at Hibernian on Sunday (12:00), Rohl's side will also have a four-point gap to close on their city rivals.

The Ibrox club are now in make-or-break territory as another blockbuster weekend in an unprecedented Premiership finale approaches.

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Lucky to be only two goals down at the break, Rohl watched Motherwell boss Askou mastermind a stunning first-half display that highlighted and exploited the deficiencies in his side.

After fighting back from a two-goal deficit at Falkirk to win 6-3 in their previous outing, the German head coach stuck with the 4-2-2-2 system that has served him well.

But Motherwell were able to outnumber Rohl's midfield completely, slicing through them at will time and again, while his full-backs were pinned back by Askou's wide forwards.

It was a sobering first half for the Rangers boss, but his half-time switch to a 4-3-3 formation, along with the introductions of midfielder Mohamed Diomande and winger Mikey Moore, revitalised his team.

Although they were ultimately undone late on by a fearless Motherwell side after dragging themselves back to 2-2, the second-half display will have given Rohl some crumbs of comfort - but plenty to ponder before Monday's encounter with Hearts.

Does he stick with the 4-2-2-2 shape, which was instrumental in Rangers' 4-2 victory over the leaders back in February, or is a rethink required?

His decision-making may hinge on the availability of striker Ryan Naderi and left-back Tuur Rommens, who are key cogs in Rohl's preferred system.

Image gallerySkip image gallery

Image caption,
Rohl's decision to use his favoured 4-2-2-2 shape in Sunday's defeat to Motherwell meant they were outnumbered in midfield and picked apart by the Fir Park side in the first half
Image caption,
However, the same system worked well against Hearts in Rangers' 4-2 victory back in February - but that was with Mikey Moore starting and both Ryan Naderi and Tuur Rommens available

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Previous imageNext imageSlide 1 of 2, Rangers team that faced Motherwell on Sunday, Rohl's decision to use his favoured 4-2-2-2 shape in Sunday's defeat to Motherwell meant they were outnumbered in midfield and picked apart by the Fir Park side in the first halfEnd of image gallery

Whatever the approach, Rohl and his squad head to Gorgie knowing they will need to become the first side to win a Premiership match at Tynecastle this season if they are to haul themselves back into serious contention.

Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland says his team will be aiming to eliminate Rangers from the title race in what could be one of the biggest Tynecastle occasions for decades.

"If we were to win, it would become pretty difficult for Rangers to win the league, just based on the number of games left to play," the Scotland striker said.

"If it becomes a two-horse race after that, you've got even more chance of winning it. So it'll be a big game - the build-up to it will be huge."

A third victory over the Govan side this season would almost certainly rule them out. Even a draw would mean Rohl's men need to make up four points across their final three matches.

Hearts' stellar record against the Old Firm has been integral to their push for a historic title. They have won four of their six league games against Rangers and Celtic this season.

The only side ever to win five league matches against the two Glasgow clubs in a single campaign? Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen - the last non-Old Firm team to win Scotland's top tier.

Maeda form symbolising Celtic momentum?

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Figure caption,

Watch Sportscene panel analyse Daizen Maeda's standout performance in Celtic's win over Falkirk

Life as a Hibs fan must feel a bit strange and rather scary right now.

After losing the Edinburgh derby on Sunday - a result that boosted their city rivals' title hopes - they now face the two other title challengers in their final four games, knowing positive results will further fuel Hearts' ambitions.

With Motherwell six points clear in fourth place and boasting a superior goal difference, and Falkirk only two points behind Hibs in sixth, David Gray's side badly need the points if they are to try to guarantee European football next season.

Celtic are the first of the top three in action again this weekend, travelling to Easter Road on Sunday with the chance to move level on points at the summit - an opportunity they took last Saturday evening with a 3-1 win over Falkirk.

A fourth straight league win would mean gameweek 34 ends with O'Neill's men closer to the top, further from third, or both.

However, Celtic do not seem to be convincing everyone. Despite last weekend's results, former striker Chris Sutton reckons Rangers still have a better chance of winning the title than his old side.

It still isn't fully clicking for the Parkhead club, but they benefited from a more unified atmosphere last Saturday, while striker Daizen Maeda is returning to his best.

With three goals in his past five games, an upturn in form from last season's Premiership player of the year perhaps symbolises the change in mood and the momentum building at Celtic.

Victory against a dangerous opponent who got the better of them in February would only reinforce that notion.