Rangers manager Danny Rohl is refusing to give up on the Scottish Premiership title race, even though Hearts now hold a 12-point advantage. The defeat at Tynecastle Park reduced Rangers’ chances in the standings, yet Rohl still talks about chasing down the leaders across the remaining 20 league matches.
Data suggests a difficult task. The Opta supercomputer currently gives Rangers a 3.2% probability of becoming 2025-26 champions, with Celtic rated at 39.8% and Hearts leading those projections at 56.9%. Despite that forecast, Rohl continues to stress belief within the squad and talks about building fresh momentum.
Rohl’s positive tone followed a frustrating afternoon in Edinburgh. Rangers lost 2-1 to Hearts, with Stuart Findlay and Lawrence Shankland
scoring in the first half for the hosts. The result ended Rohl’s unbeaten start in top-flight management, which had lasted eight league games since replacing Russell Martin earlier in the season.
Addressing the setback, Rohl outlined the mindset Rangers must show over the next phase of the campaign. "After the Hearts game, of course, the feeling was disappointment, but we have to go forward again," said Rohl. "It's about us creating a new momentum, a new run. If I asked you eight weeks ago if it was possible to have, at the end of December, a game where we are in a title race? Then you would say, 'I'm not sure'. It hurts at the moment that we had this small setback, but it's for us to start winning games again. There are still 20 games to go, and if you do this, then you have a chance. I think the feeling before the game was really strong from our side. I felt from all players that we really believed we are back. Now we have to understand where we are. "
The immediate focus for Rangers is a demanding festive schedule. Motherwell visit Ibrox on Saturday, followed by league fixtures against St. Mirren, Celtic and Aberdeen. Those matches come during a period when the club aims to repair confidence and reduce the gap to Hearts at the top.
Recent league meetings with Motherwell underline the challenge. Rangers have recorded only one win in the last five Premiership clashes against Motherwell, with two draws and two defeats. Rangers are also without a league victory in the most recent three encounters, drawing twice and losing once, since winning 2-1 in August 2024.
Rohl is aware that another slip would be historic in the wrong way. Rangers have never previously gone four consecutive league games without beating Motherwell. That context shapes the importance of the upcoming fixture, which arrives as Motherwell show stronger form and collect consistent points in recent weeks.
Rangers title race pressure and Scottish Premiership home form
Looking ahead to the Motherwell match, Rohl highlighted both the visitors’ form and the atmosphere expected at Ibrox. "This weekend we will face a team that are also on a good run," added Rohl. "They are flying, a lot of good results, a lot of good points, but it will be a good game. We will have a lot of supporters, it's Christmas. Let's try to create a good energy in the stadium, a togetherness. We have to deliver a proper fight, a good performance on the pitch and take the next result, then we can look to the next game. Six or seven weeks ago, there was not one thought about the title race, and I think we feel what it means, that we have a chance, even in eight games, to close the gap again. But it's about results, and I believe we need a better run, and this is not easy, especially with the upcoming eight games. "
Rangers can still point to encouraging numbers at Ibrox under Rohl. In four home league fixtures since the managerial change, Rangers have achieved three victories and one draw. That record follows a spell of only two wins in 10 Premiership home matches, when the team also registered four draws and four defeats.
Although the Tynecastle defeat reduced the optimism around their title chances, Rangers remain mathematically in contention. The club’s improved home form, the remaining 20 fixtures and Rohl’s emphasis on renewed momentum keep the objective alive. The coming run against Motherwell, St. Mirren, Celtic and Aberdeen is likely to show whether that ambition can realistically stay in place.
