Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Mon 16 March 2026 7:40, UK

Peter Lovenkrands has predicted that Rangers will hold the Scottish Premiership title advantage heading into the split, believing their next fixtures give them the edge.

The Gers clinched a crucial 1-0 victory at St Mirren on Sunday to close the gap on leaders Hearts, with just three points all that separates them from the summit with eight games to go.

It was far from pretty, but Tuur Rommens’ first-half tap-in was enough to get Danny Rohl’s side over the line, despite the blustery conditions in Paisley.

While the three-horse race looks set to go the distance, Lovenkrands says the Light Blues might have become the narrow favourites ahead of their Scottish Premiership run-in.

Peter Lovenkrands tips Rangers to lead at split

Fresh from their vital, albeit unconvincing, win last time out, Rangers will certainly fancy their chances. They next host Aberdeen and Dundee United at Ibrox, before a trip to Falkirk.

Hearts, meanwhile, must navigate a tricky away day at Livingston on April 5, with the cracks perhaps beginning to show after their surprise 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock.

Celtic will also travel twice to Dundee over the coming weeks, leaving the Gers with the more forgiving fixture list. That could, of course, be decisive in deciding who becomes champions.

Speaking on BBC Sportscene, Lovenkrands said: “I think the next two games, favourites, Rangers, with all due respect to the other teams.

“Celtic’s got the harder ones with the two away games, up in Dundee. I think Livingston away for Hearts is also a tricky one. It’s not an easy place to go.

“So, it does favour Rangers.

“Of course, Hearts are already points ahead, so it could be a joint-top, goal difference. It’s exciting, though. We want to see that. But I do think going into the last game of the season, it could be even closer than it is now.”

Scott Allan, however, was less keen to make a prediction. He said: “I think we’re genuinely going week to week. There will still be teams that slip up.”

Regardless of what the pundits are saying, Rohl will know his players shut out the noise and remain focused, with their final eight fixtures all now cup finals.

Rangers must find a cutting-edge

Rangers simply needed all three points at St Mirren, but there will rightly be concerns over the manner of their performance. On another day, they could have been punished.

They created numerous chances to put the game to bed but were profligate in front of goal, with Rommens’ strike their only real moment of cutting edge in Paisley.

In the end, they needed just the one goal to chalk up the victory, and with it, their title hopes were given a monumental boost, especially with Hearts slipping up.

However, Aberdeen are up next, and Rangers will need to carry much more of a threat in and around the penalty area if they are to have any chance of recording back-to-back wins.

Another slip-up would be costly, with fine margins likely to decide this title race.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.