Rangers’ Scottish Premiership title hopes have suffered a major collapse after back-to-back defeats left their season hanging by a thread. Just over a week ago, Danny Rohl’s side were still firmly in the title conversation, but successive losses have now pushed them seven points behind leaders Hearts and four points adrift of second place.
The turning point came after a damaging 3-2 home defeat to Motherwell, a match that Rangers were unable to close out despite late pressure and conceding a stoppage-time winner. That result set the tone for what followed at Tynecastle, where Rangers entered knowing that anything less than a win would severely damage their already fragile title push.
Before kick-off in Edinburgh, Rohl admitted his squad had worked extremely hard to even be in contention at this stage of the season. However, within 90 minutes, those ambitions were effectively crushed. Although Rangers led at half-time through a deflected volley from Dujon Sterling, their second-half collapse allowed Hearts to turn the match around and secure a 2-1 victory.
By full-time, Rangers had little response left. Apart from a late effort by Thelo Aasgaard that struck the crossbar, they never seriously threatened to salvage a point, highlighting a familiar issue this season: the inability to sustain performance levels across an entire match.
Fragility Over 90 Minutes
Speaking after the defeat, Rohl pointed to the physical and tactical challenges posed by Hearts, who adjusted their approach by playing more direct and applying pressure in key areas of the pitch.
He explained that Rangers struggled to deal with the intensity after the break, saying they failed to maintain control of crucial defensive moments. While he acknowledged the team must learn from such situations, he also emphasised the squad’s relative youth and lack of experience at this level.
This inconsistency has been a recurring theme throughout Rangers’ campaign. They have shown moments of strong attacking football but repeatedly failed to maintain control over full matches. Against Motherwell, they fell two goals behind before recovering to level the game, only to concede again late on. A similar pattern was seen earlier in the season against Falkirk, where Rangers recovered from an early deficit to win 6-3.
Other matches have followed a similar script: a comeback draw against Livingston after going two goals down, and a 2-2 draw against Celtic after dominating the first half but fading late. These repeated lapses have cost Rangers valuable points, with 12 league draws now significantly impacting their title challenge.
Criticism of Mental Strength
Following the defeat at Tynecastle, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd raised concerns about the team’s mentality, suggesting that Rangers failed to show the necessary resilience when under pressure. He highlighted Hearts’ ability to manage the game after taking control and criticised Rangers for not responding strongly enough.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton echoed similar views, arguing that Rangers’ performances have not matched the level expected given the financial investment in the squad. He described the collapse as part of a wider pattern rather than an isolated incident.
However, Rohl strongly rejected suggestions that his team lacks mental strength. He argued that momentum shifts are a natural part of football, especially when playing away in a hostile atmosphere where goals can quickly change the emotional balance of a match.
According to him, the key issue is not mentality but consistency. He stressed that Rangers cannot afford to perform well in only one half of football and must learn to maintain high standards for the full 90 minutes.
Season of Mixed Progress
Despite the recent setbacks, Rohl’s tenure has not been without progress. When he took charge in October, Rangers were already well behind both Hearts and Celtic following a major squad rebuild. At that stage, they were 13 points behind Hearts and eight behind Celtic.
Since then, there has been improvement in form, with Rangers briefly closing the gap to just one point behind Hearts and overtaking Celtic earlier in the campaign. Statistically, Rohl has also maintained a strong points-per-game average compared to rival managers.
However, the recent defeats have undone much of that progress, leaving Rangers facing the possibility of finishing third for the first time since 2018. Their only remaining hope depends on winning their final matches and relying on other results to go in their favour.
Pressure and Uncertain Future
Looking ahead, Rangers face a crucial trip to Celtic Park, where only a win will keep their slim title hopes alive. Even then, they will need Hearts to drop points to stay in contention.
The pressure is further increased by uncertainty around the squad. Captain James Tavernier has already confirmed he will leave in the summer, while several loan players will return to their parent clubs. Other key players are entering the final year of their contracts, suggesting another major rebuild may be required.
Rohl has accepted that significant changes may be needed but remains confident in his long-term vision. He has promised a full review of the season once it concludes, focusing on both positives and weaknesses in order to build a stronger squad for the future.
For now, however, his immediate focus is clear: restore confidence, demand consistency, and try to salvage what remains of a fading title challenge.
