Rangers

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

Might away form prove Rangers' undoing in the title race?

Danny Rohl's men slipped up on their travels at 10-man Motherwell on Wednesday night, shipping a late equaliser - to Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh of all people.

It was a second successive away draw for Rangers, who are now five points adrift of leaders Hearts before hosting the Tynecastle side this weekend. Skipper James Tavernier was not resorting to hyperbole when referring to it as must-win for Rangers.

There's no doubt Rohl has had a transformative effect since inheriting a mess from Russell Martin in October.

The German has suffered just one defeat in his 18 league games and has revived the Ibrox club's title hopes - but they are showing frailties away from Ibrox.

At home, Rangers under Rohl have been almost flawless, spilling just two points, with eight wins and a draw. That's an average of 2.78 per game.

On the road, it's 18 points from a possible 27 (an average of 2.0 per game), with five wins, three draws and one loss.

While Rohl's Rangers have impressed at times on their travels - particularly in the derby victory at Celtic Park and overcoming Aberdeen - they were meek in defeat at Tynecastle and poor in the past two away trips, the goalless stalemate draw at Hibs and 1-1 draw at Fir Park.

Rohl came in for criticism for starting without the majority of his January signings against Motherwell, and there's plenty of room for improvement as newcomers settle in and find their feet.

But at a time when the title pressure is cracking up, any slip could be costly and vulnerabilities pounced upon.

Of Rangers' seven remaining pre-split fixtures, three are away - at bottom club Livingston, St Mirren and Falkirk. Full points must be the expectation.

Image source, SNS

Captain James Tavernier accepts the visit of Premiership leaders Hearts on Sunday is must-win for Rangers as they bid to keep their title hopes alive.

Danny Rohl's side were held two a second draw in three league games as they conceded late on at 10-man Motherwell on Wednesday night to trail Hearts by five points with 12 matches left.

"Every game's a must-win, but with their lead in the table, obviously it's a must-win if you want to compete for the title," said Tavernier.

"So we have to get the three points, no matter what.

"I think if you've seen the course of the season, we've responded.

"We obviously don't want to put ourselves in these situations, and from now, with 12 games to go, we can't really be having any of these situations going forward.

"So we've got to obviously show different ways of how to win and see games out when we're not looking overly at our best.

"It's a massive game on the weekend. It's at home and we've got to really be on the front foot against another good team who've been doing well this season and get the three points.

"It's a young squad. We've had ups and downs this season and then I felt that as young as the squad is, they've really came round and grown as a group.

"These are pivotal moments in the season, where you come down to the last stretch and you're really going for the title and you're in the title race.

"So you can't afford to have slip-ups like this, but we know it's obviously a missed opportunity. We got a point and now we have to respond and get three points at home."

Image source, SNS

Danny Rohl has defended his team selection at Fir Park after Rangers conceded a late equaliser against 10-man Motherwell to drop two points in the title race.

Rohl caused a surprise by naming January signings Tuur Rommens, Ryan Naderi, Andreas Skov Olsen and Ryan Naderi, plus in-form defender Emmanuel Fernandez, on the bench.

Rommens and Skov Olsen remained unused as Rangers, who led through Nicolas Raskin's early strike, were undone by a Stephen Welsh equaliser.

"You have to pick the team before the game, not after," said the German.

"There were some things, Ryan had a little bit of problem on Tuesday after training, it was too much for him to start.

"And then with Tochi [Chukwuani] and Tuur and Skov, you have to implement them in the rhythm of the game.

"I saw both games, tonight and Sunday, I saw them together and you need the idea for both games. Let's see. It's just a draw and we are disappointed, of course. I take this."

Rangers now trail leaders Hearts - who visit Ibrox on Sunday - by five points with 12 games remaining, but Rohl is adamant the Fir Park slip-up has not ruined his team's title hopes.

"Tonight doesn't mean the title race is over," he said.

"It's a bit of a blow because we dropped two points late. But we have the next opportunity and if our reaction is right we can get the right result one Sunday."

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou couldn't believe how "cynical" Rangers were in the 1-1 draw at Fir Park.

Rangers took an early lead courtesy of Nicolas Raskin's goal and looked as though they would hold on to the three points when Motherwell were reduced to 10 men for Lukas Fadinger's challenge on Mikey Moore with just over 10 minutes to play.

But a late goal from Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh rescued a point for Askou's men, which was no more than the manager felt his side deserved, especially given the tactics employed by Danny Rohl's side.

"It was an absolutely sensational performance from start to finish," Askou told Sky Sports, external.

"We dominated the game in so many ways, even with one man down we dominated and looked like a team who wanted to win the game.

"I thought our intensity and speed of play was outstanding and it caused a tonne of problems for Rangers out there. They had to [concede] one free-kick after another to stop us.

"I was surprised that they didn't get more yellow cards in the first half and I don't think it's good enough.

"It's an absolutely top game, probably the best game you can get in Scottish football right now, and you get to play that cynical?

"I think it's a shame for the game, that's the reason why there weren't more goals in the game.

"We didn't let frustration take over, we stuck in it and adjusted a few things at half-time and knew there would be chances in the second half."

While Askou acknowledged Fadinger deserved to be sent off, he didn't see a huge difference between that challenge and some on his own players.

"Lukas gets sent off and it's our first red card." Askou added.

"The intensity of the tackle was not worse than many of the other tackles we received.

"He's just a little bit unlucky that he catches him five inches off the ground."

We asked for your views after 10-man Motherwell scored a late goal to snatch a point against Rangers at Fir Park.

Here's what some of you said:

Sally: Rangers were too slow moving the ball and perform better playing at a fast pace. Free-kicks have given the team a few goals but James Tavernier consistently taking them is becoming predictable and inevitably end up in the keeper's hands. Motherwell deserved the point.

Greg: Let's face it Motherwell played some excellent football. Yes it's disappointing to lose a late equaliser, and some of our passing was woeful, but credit to 'Well. Not many teams will fancy Fir Park.

Bruce: Mikey Moore not in the game in the first half suggests we set up incorrectly. We did not introduce width into attack. Djeidi Gassama had more of the ball but failed to connect. Everything through midfield suited Motherwell, who played well and were smarter than Rangers. We are improved but if we want to win league it is matches like this that affect outcomes.

Louise: This is one of the first times I've disagreed with Danny Rohl's team selection. Youssef Chermiti shouldn't have played as long as he did after coming back from injury and after missing a sitter that could have put us ahead, he should have been subbed at half-time. It was a disappointing end to a frantic game but this was always going to be a real test for Rangers. Sunday is a must-win now if we want any chance of challenging for the title.

Ell: Some things never change. Can't score goals and a defence all at sea, a woeful performance start to finish. We were lucky not to beaten by the 10 men.

Tom: Just as we position ourselves into a strong place, Rohl morphs into Russell Martin. Why oh why did he start with that line-up? It was a crazy decision that may cost us the league. Absolutely gutted.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has defended Cameron Archer despite the forward being subbed off at half time against Leicester City in a rare start, saying the 24-year-old has had to deal with the disappointment of a transfer to Rangers falling through on deadline day. (Glasgow Times), external

Motherwell will listen to offers for 23-year-old forward Tawanda Maswanhise this summer amid interest from both Celtic and Rangers. (Football Insider), external

Rangers have outspent city rivals Celtic over the last two transfer windows, despite the latter banking £53m from transfers over the previous five years. (Daily Record), external

Rangers look set to play a summer friendly against Hansa Rostock as part of their £4.3m January purchase of striker Ryan Naderi, the German club have revealed. (The National), external

Glasgow city centre residents say they have been left disappointed that, despite meetings last year, no plans regarding potential football title party celebrations in May have been communicated to them. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch the best of the action as 10-man Motherwell come from behind to snatch a point against Rangers with a late goal from on-loan Celtic defender Stephen Welsh. Available to UK users only

Rangers failed to match Hearts' pace in the Scottish Premiership title race as they conceded an 89th-minute equaliser to 10-man Motherwell, with the gap at the top of the table now five points wide.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl tells BBC Scotland: "The first 10 minutes we were very strong, we played fantastic football for the goal, it was outstanding.

"Then Motherwell did really well and we struggled in our pressing. At half time, we had to adjust some parts and we were much more organised.

"We had moments where we had to make it 2-0. Even in the first half, they had more ball possession but we had a big chance. Finally, there's the red card. It is not always an advantage because you know they'll go direct.

"It hurts today. We have to accept it, but move forward.

"When you have a red card and you're 1-0 down, you have nothing to lose. We should not look for too many draws, it's about winning games to close the gap.

"The title race, it will go up and down. All three teams are fighting for points.

"When you come from 13 points behind, you have to win nearly every game and Sunday is the next opportunity. It's a big opportunity and we know this.

"When you concede so late, we have to be disappointed. For me, it's about moving forward and concentrating what we can influence."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

These next few days could be seismic for Rangers, knowing that if they can win their next two games there is a good chance they will be top of the league or, at worst, just behind Hearts on goal difference.

Clearly, though, getting the six points from the fixtures away to Motherwell and at home to Derek McInnes' side is going to be tough.

First things first, they need to go to Fir Park tonight and do what no opposition team has been able to do since October - score at least one goal.

Danny Rohl's side have certainly found their shooting boots in the past week, scoring a combined 13 in emphatic victories.

But, breaking down Motherwell's miserly defence is a different challenge than overwhelming 10-man Kilmarnock and the Championship's bottom side Queen's Park.

However, those games, and the goalscoring exploits within, will have done Rangers no harm at all. Ryan Naderi got his first couple of goals for his new club, Andreas Skov Olsen has begun to show the impact he can provide while Tuur Rommens' first impressions have been wholly positive, rekindling memories of Borna Barisic marauding down the left flank.

He, and the rest of the Rangers backline, will also have to be mindful of a very potent Motherwell attack, led by the league's top scorer Tawanda Maswanhise.

The game promises to be a special one and if Rangers can come out on top, it would be an enormous fillip to their title ambitions, before trying to beat the league leaders for the first time this season.

Image source, SNS

• Nicolas Raskin has created more chances from open play (33) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season, with his five assists the most of any Rangers player.

• The past six league meetings between Motherwell and Rangers have an even head-to-head record, with both sides winning twice each (all by a one-goal margin) and the other two being drawn. Rangers had won six in a row against the Steelmen prior to this.

• Rangers are unbeaten in 31 league visits to Motherwell (W20 D11) since going down 1-0 in December 2002. Only at Morton have the Ibrox side ever enjoyed a longer unbeaten away run in their league history (41 from 1920 to 1987).

• Motherwell have kept a clean sheet in their past eight home league games (W7 D1), winning the latest five in a row. In the 21st century, the only side to keep nine successive home clean sheets in the Scottish top flight are Celtic (twice – December 2013 to March 2014 and October 2024 to February 2025).

• Rangers have won seven of their past eight league games (D1), a run that started with a 1-0 win over Motherwell in December. Since that day, the Ibrox club have earned at least eight more points than any side in the Scottish Premiership (22, Hearts second with 16).

Manager Danny Rohl is leaning on his experiences at Bayern Munich as he attempts to mastermind a glorious end to a rollercoaster season at Rangers. (Daily Record)

Rangers icon Ally McCoist will be part of the HBO Max coverage when the huge US platform arrives in the UK and Ireland on 26 March. (Scottish Sun)

Celtic legend Larsson was heckled by a Rangers supporter as he went to tee up his ball on the first hole in a celebrity golf tournament. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Striker Bojan Miovski says growing confidence and competition for places means Rangers now "look like a good team".

The players recruited in the recent transfer window means no one can relax in their "comfort zone", according to the North Macedonia international, who credits manager Danny Rohl with bringing "a really good energy" since he arrived at the club in late October.

Miovski is confident the squad can rise to the challenge of the big games coming up this week and beyond, given the form the side has been in and the strength of the squad now.

The 26-year-old has netted in the past two outings, taking his tally to 11 goals for the season, and faces extra competition for a starting place following the deadline-day arrival of fellow striker Ryan Naderi.

"When the results are coming, you build confidence and of course now we have more competition so it's nice to push each other," said Miovski.

"Every time I go with the same mindset, to score and try to help the team. It's always nice when you have competition in big clubs like this.

"You always need to compete. It's not nice when you're in your comfort zone so it's nice to have competition and we can push each other. That is good for the team.

"When you come to this stage of the season, when the teams are coming, when we are close, they're always big games, but we go game by game, and are only focusing on Motherwell."

On Rohl, Miovski said: "He brings a lot of good energy to the team. We spend a lot of time in meetings, speaking about tactical things and how he wants to help the team.

"We've had a lot of games in a short period but now we look like a good team. Every week is massive, now, to be honest. We will see what the future brings."

Image source, SNS

Motherwell full-back Johnny Koutroumbis drops out for a few weeks with a calf injury. But Elliot Watt and Regan Charles-Cook have resumed full training and will be assessed.

Callum Hendry remains out along with long-term absentee Zach Robinson (Achilles).

Rangers pair Youssef Chermiti and Emmanuel Fernandez come back into the squad after respective Achilles and knee injuries.

Max Aarons, Connor Barron (knee) and Derek Cornelius (muscle) are still out.

Image source, SNS

Rangers boss Danny Rohl is relishing a looming Old Firm double-header at Ibrox after his side landed Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

Rohl's men host their Glasgow rivals in the Premiership on Sunday, 1 March before meeting the following weekend for a place in the cup semis.

"I don't know how often you have as a club in one week to have such two big games," said Rohl.

"For me it was important to have a home game because I like to play in front of our fans, and we have two great opportunities in one week, and let's see what we can do.

"It will be special. In all the games ahead of us - Motherwell, Hearts, we have to do a job in Livingston - and then you have these two big games.

"As a supporter you will enjoy when you take the right results. As a manager I will also enjoy these games, because it's the reason why we play football."

Rohl has faced Celtic twice since being appointed at Ibrox in October. His Rangers side lost 3-1 in extra time to Martin O'Neill's Celtic in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden, before winning 3-1 at Celtic Park in Wilfried Nancy's final game in charge.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before Rangers visit Motherwell in the Premiership on Wednesday night.

Here are the key lines:

• Rohl says he has seen a transformation in his side, from being too "respectful" and "fearful" to one that now has more "courage" on the pitch.

• He welcomed his first manager of the month award and deflected the praise on to his coaching staff and players, noting that "10 or 12 weeks ago" he would go into games thinking "hopefully" they would win. Now he feels "we can win, we will win", a change of mindset he is confident will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.

• In that regard he feels his time as a coach with Bayern Munich helped "a lot" by instilling a winning culture. Roh says even in four v four games in training, the mentality at Bayern was you had to win and he wants to see that at Rangers as well. The big job, the big challenge at Rangers is to keep churning out wins repeatedly.

• Rohl used the analogy of building strong foundations for the Rangers 'house': using all the tools to make the house "bigger and bigger". He wants the players to have right attitude and mindset which both build "confidence and trust in what we're doing".

• On drawing Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, Rohl says: "I'm looking forward to it, for me it was important to have a home game. We have two great opportunities [against Celtic] in one week and let's see what we can do. It will be special."

• Rohl is very complimentary towards Motherwell counterpart Jens Berthel Askou, saying "They're doing an outstanding job there, the manager and the group."

• He feels Fir Park is "a tough place" and that the last time the sides met at Ibrox [1-0 Rangers win in December], there were "lots of chances for both sides". Although Rangers will travel with "confidence and ambition", he accepts "we have to do a lot of things right" to come away with a positive result.

• With league leaders Hearts hosting Hibs tonight – before heading to Ibrox on Sunday – Rohl revealed he'll watch the Edinburgh derby but won't be in attendance. He also admitted to sometimes switching his phone off when key matches are played that have an impact on his side to avoid getting too emotional when a goal is scored in added time.

• The only player missing for the trip to Fir Park is Max Aarons, with everyone else fit and available (with the exception of long-term injuries).

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

The past two fixtures have been full of goals for this Rangers side.

The five against Killie were excellent, even if the first half didn't bring the best performance. It was good to see the strength on the bench and the goals fly in.

On Sunday, it was a continuation of the second half on Wednesday. There was no slacking and it was nice to see Rangers become ruthless and stick eight past Queen's Park.

Yes, those two matches come with certain caveats, but you can see a Rangers squad that looks stronger, has good options all over the park and the players feeling more comfortable and confident in what they are being asked to do by Danny Rohl.

Rohl's new additions in the January window have given him lots of tactical flexibility. On Wednesday, it was a 4-2-3-1 and on Sunday the 4-4-2 made an appearance. Bearing in mind he has also used a back three at times, it will keep the opposition guessing.

Next up is a tough test at Fir Park against a Motherwell side who have been excellent at home. If Rangers play to their capabilities, and put in a performance the polar opposite of what they produced at Easter Road, they will win. Same applies on Sunday against Hearts.

It will be interesting to see how Rohl uses the squad in these two matches. I'm hoping Ryan Naderi starts as the number nine.

The newly-arrived striker, in the short time we've seen him, has made a positive impact. Having marked his first start with a double at the weekend he looks like he can be a killer in the box - something we've badly lacked this season.

The progress Rangers have made under Rohl has been fantastic given where the team were when he took over.

This week feels big in terms of judging the real, tangible progress of this team. Two wins would be brilliant.

Image source, Rangers FC

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has won the Scottish Premiership manager of the month award for January after a flawless league run.

Rohl's side won all four league matches in January, beating Celtic, Aberdeen home and away and Dundee as they climbed to second.

"I am delighted to have won the manager of the month award," Rohl said.

"However, this award is not about me; it is also for the rest of the coaching staff as well as the players.

"We have worked tirelessly as a group to get into the position we are now, and I hope there may be more of these awards in the months ahead, as that means collectively we have achieved what we want to achieve here at Rangers."