Rangers next game v Hearts is more important than Old Firm clash
At any other time of the season, a home game against Hearts wouldn’t be much of a blockbuster game but it has become that for Rangers now.
Wednesday’s 3-0 humiliation in the Old Firm derby against Celtic has seen the Gers drop below their Glasgow rivals into second in the Scottish Premiership and all the momentum is now with the Hoops.
Hearts sit third in the league, but they are some way off the leading duo although they will still pose a threat to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.
Rangers are yet to taste victory in the league since the restart from the winter break mid-way through January and the Dutchman needs his team to cut that run short immediately.
Draws against Aberdeen and Ross County are not results that champions acquire and the derby defeat compiled the misery for the Light Blues.
The reason this game is so important however isn’t because of the opposition, but the scenario they have found themselves in.
Had they come away from Parkhead with even a point, Rangers could relax knowing they are still top of the league but the manner of their defeat was unacceptable.
This game is crucial as it will be the day where van Bronckhorst finds out what his team are made of and who stands up against adversity.
He will have to find a way past his incoming summer signing John Souttar however who is likely to start for the Jambos against his future employers.
Any hangovers from the derby day demolition must be put well out of the equation and every player, whoever van Bronckhorst selects, has to be at the races to avoid the title race getting further away from their grasp.
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist and Chris Sutton have been engaging in words in the midst of the Old Firm.