Rangers’ narrow victory over Hibernian may not have dazzled, but it reinforced a growing sense that the Scottish Premiership title race is becoming increasingly congested. As former striker and coach Billy Dodds observed in the aftermath, “This is turning into a fascinating title race with how many teams are involved in it.”
That sentiment would have seemed fanciful when Danny Rohl was appointed head coach on 20 October. At that point, Rangers were mired in mid-table uncertainty, reeling from the unceremonious end to Russell Martin’s tenure and sitting eighth in the league, 11 points behind leaders Hearts and uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. An interim spell under Steven Smith, punctuated by a 2-2 draw with Dundee United, left them 13 points adrift of the summit and searching for direction.
Fast forward a few weeks and the landscape has shifted. Monday’s win over Hibs — Rangers’ sixth since Rohl’s arrival — lifted them to third place, nine points behind Hearts with a game in hand, and set up a potentially pivotal meeting at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Dodds highlighted the transformation in tone if not always in style. “Rangers deserved the win, they’re putting a run together now,” he said on BBC Sportsound. “They were pragmatic. If you play poorly, make sure you win — that’s what Rangers are doing.”
The performance itself was workmanlike rather than inspiring. Rangers were second best for long spells of the first half as Hibernian dominated possession and found space in midfield. David Gray’s side progressed the ball effectively from the back, but repeatedly faltered in the final third, a failing that ultimately proved costly.
That hesitation allowed Rangers to strike against the run of play. Emmanuel Fernandez’s flicked finish from Dujon Sterling’s excellent cross gave the hosts a lead they scarcely deserved at the time, but one they defended with increasing assurance. From that moment, the priority became control and containment rather than expression.
Rohl was candid in his post-match assessment, acknowledging the lack of fluency while emphasising the value of outcomes. “It was not always the nicest football, but we are finding a way to win games,” he told BBC Scotland, following his side’s fifth clean sheet. “We have to improve, step by step. For me, it’s about winning games.”
That pragmatism has become a defining feature of Rohl’s early tenure. Rangers are unbeaten in the league under his stewardship, and while attacking cohesion remains a work in progress, defensive solidity and game management have provided a platform for steady progress.
The immediate test is a daunting one. Hearts, under Derek McInnes, have reasserted themselves with a statement win over Celtic and a resilient victory against Falkirk in testing conditions. Their earlier triumph at Ibrox in September — their first there since 2014 — marked a low point in Rangers’ season and underscored the gulf that once existed between the sides.
Now, the gap has narrowed, at least psychologically. Rohl has consistently spoken of incremental improvement, urging his players to be braver and more progressive in possession. “When we play forward instead of backwards, we have more than enough quality to hurt all opponents in the league,” he said.
A positive result at Tynecastle would represent more than just three points. It would signal that Rangers’ resurgence is not merely a run of efficient wins, but a credible challenge to the established order — one that Celtic and Hearts may no longer be able to ignore.
