- Title hopes dented after home defeat to Motherwell
- Hearts match next Monday viewed as ‘do or die’ clash
- Possible route highlights importance of goal difference
Rangers’ defeat to Motherwell dealt a potentially fatal blow to their title chances ahead of next Monday’s visit to league leaders Hearts.
There has been a lot of talk in the aftermath, from midfield, substitutions, the inability to grasp opportunities and so on.
However, as the old saying goes, it is not over until the fat lady sings with this Scottish Premiership season no stranger to producing twists and turns when you least expect them.
Danny Rohl’s men have four games remaining and one potential route highlighted by Scotland’s Coefficient paints one scenario where the Gers lift the title.
Potential route where Rangers win the league on goal difference
In the situation where the Gers and current league leaders Hearts finish the season tied on the same number of points (79), Rangers would win the title by +6 goal difference.
In order for this scenario to come to pass, the Ibrox club need to win against Hearts at Tynecastle and the final two matches against Hibs and Falkirk by a 2-1 scoreline.
A 1-1 draw against Celtic would also be enough for this outcome on the basis that Hearts lose to Motherwell and that Derek McInnes’ men defeat Celtic on the final day.
This would leave the final standings declaring Rangers champions with a stronger goal difference of +37 compared to Hearts (+31) with Celtic finishing third on 77 points.
Rangers current goal difference stands at +34 and this is partly thanks to the recent surge in attack with the Gers now on a total of 17 goals in the space of five matches.
Goal difference remains an advantage despite momentum shift
Last weekend’s loss at the hands of Motherwell saw the end of a run of 16 league matches unbeaten and a first home defeat since September.
That has seen a lot of the momentum drain out of Ibrox, apart from one thing.
Rangers have a stronger goal difference than Hearts (+31) and Celtic (+26) and that is an advantage that they still have over their title rivals.
That could become decisive with four games to go but it will all count for nothing if the Gers do not deliver by defeating Hearts in less than a week’s time.
However, if they do, then the aforementioned scenario goes one step forward to being fulfilled.
Read Rangers Analysis
Rangers have left themselves with a mountain to climb after the Motherwell defeat.
However, it is not insurmountable, not yet.
The outcome where goal difference is their saviour provides a reminder that Rangers are still in this fight.
