Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Tue 28 April 2026 7:40, UK

The final whistle at Ibrox might as well have been a death knell for Rangers.

While they’re mathematically still in this Scottish Premiership title fight, the 3-2 defeat by Motherwell on Sunday leaves them clinging on by their fingernails. Stuck in a gunfight in the last chance saloon, they simply must beat leaders Hearts if they want to be champions.

Judging from his hot and cold performance, though, they will have no chance.

Danny Rohl has sought to remain positive, having taken up the microphone to issue a rallying cry during the club’s Player of the Year ceremony, held mere hours after the loss at Ibrox. It is rather telling that their social media accounts still haven’t announced the winners.

Rangers are now four points off the pace with as many matches remaining, and while their setback against Motherwell wasn’t fatal, it leaves them with no more room for error.

Rangers made to pay for sluggish start – again

Rohl has looked to provide a clear distinction between the team he inherited from Russell Martin and the title-chasing crop of today, believing the improvement shows the importance of unity. The only issue is that you never quite know which Rangers will turn up anymore.

“These players, our players, have everything to go again next Monday,” said Rohl on Sunday. “It’s a final, we have to win, guys. This group, our players, will do everything to win this game.”

It was a valiant enough attempt at circling the wagons, but he will know the only way the Light Blues can pick up all three points at Tynecastle is by belatedly learning from the mistakes which cost them against Motherwell.

Truthfully, these same issues have dogged them all season.

As was the case against Falkirk in their previous outing, Rangers staggered out of the traps. They were duly punished, with a rapid-fire two-goal salvo knocking them to the deck. Really, they were fortunate to have conceded just twice. It could have been much, much worse.

Second best again for the opening 45 minutes, Rohl had no choice but to go back to the drawing board. James Tavernier, Mohamed Diomande and Mikey Moore were all readied, and their introductions provided the Gers with an instant – and desperately needed – boost.

A double from Youssef Chermiti restored parity and set up a grandstand finish, but it was the visitors who went on to take all three points after Emmanuel Longelo scored his second goal on 90 minutes. When the ball hit the net, the din around Ibrox gave way to a near-silence.

Later that evening, it only got worse. Hearts had trailed fierce rivals Hibernian but capitalised on their opponents being reduced to nine men to score an 86th-minute winner, creating a four-point gap between them and Rangers. Already, it looks insurmountable.

Should Derek McInnes’ side beat the Light Blues next Monday, they will go seven points clear and hammer home the final nail in their opponent’s coffin.

First, though, Rohl must do some introspection. Rangers have conceded 15 first-half league goals this season, with five coming in the last three matches. They are starting too slowly when it actually matters, leaving themselves with a mountain to climb.

While their fighting spirit is admirable, as was shown against both Falkirk and Motherwell, they have glaring defensive deficiencies and a mentality that flickers unpredictably between off and on. These are not the building blocks for a successful title challenge.

No easy solution to Danny Rohl issues

Rangers have now shipped nine goals in their last four matches. Combined with their tendency to play in fits and starts and rely on individual brilliance, this is unsustainable. They lack conviction and resilience when their backs are against the wall.

Rohl will be scratching his head. It beggars belief that too many of his players can be so irresistible in one second and then caught with their trousers down the next.

It is not as if the 36-year-old hasn’t tweaked with the formula, either. He opted for the two-man frontline that proved the catalyst for the fightback at Falkirk, starting Bojan Miovski and Chermiti together for the first time this season.

That was expected to put a spring in the Gers’ step.

But you wouldn’t have known that they’d jetted out to Murcia for a warm-weather training camp between fixtures. There were no signs they had been invigorated by the getaway. Supporters had whipped up a raucous noise but were deflated from the very first whistle.

It looked as though it was Motherwell who were pushing for the title. Their tempo rendered Rangers chasing shadows. Having gone two goals ahead, really, it should have been 3-0. After Callum Slattery squandered a golden chance, the home crowd were enraged.

Somehow, the Gers’ Premiership hopes were vanishing in front of their very eyes without a whimper. Rohl would have been justified in dragging his entire starting XI off after half an hour. They were like a rabbit caught in the headlights, lacking bravery.

What will worry Rohl the most is the lack of simple solutions to these issues. Mentality is notoriously fragile, and Rangers’ fortitude blinks on and off like a faulty lightbulb. They are clearly desperate to win the title and will give it their all, but it could already be too late.

The pre-match message was for Rangers to ‘Keep Believing’. No one will be now.

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