Rangers’ recent defeats have exposed a growing issue at the heart of Danny Rohl’s side, and the absence of Connor Barron is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
The losses to Motherwell and Hearts did not follow identical patterns, but they pointed to the same underlying flaw.
Against Motherwell, Rangers were 2-0 down at half time after a disjointed opening period where midfield control was never established.
In contrast, they led 1-0 at the break at Tynecastle, only to lose their grip entirely in the second half as Hearts took over and turned the game around.
In both matches, the common thread was an inability to deliver a complete 90-minute performance.
Midfield inconsistency leaves Rangers’ title dreams in tatters
That trend has not been isolated to those two fixtures.
It mirrors the chaotic win over Falkirk, where Rangers trailed 2-1 at half time before recovering to win 6-3.
Also in the recent draw with Celtic at Ibrox, where a 2-0 half-time lead slipped away to 2-2.
Across these games, control has proven fragile, with performances swinging dramatically between halves.
There have also been issues with the head coach.
Rohl seems to be incapable of dealing with tactical changes from opposing dugouts, when control shifts, the German has struggled to adapt.
Barron’s absence sits at the centre of that inconsistency.
Against Motherwell, Rohl deployed a midfield two of Tochi Chukwuani and Nico Raskin in a 4-2-2-2 system.
This would be a pairing that struggled to provide defensive cover or dictate tempo.
At Tynecastle, the shift to a 4-3-3 saw Mohamed Diomande join that duo.
Yet the added body did not translate into greater control despite a strong first half.
Instead, as the game wore on, spaces opened up and Rangers once again found themselves reacting rather than managing the contest.
Rangers are better with Connor Barron
The contrast in outcomes with and without Barron in the starting side under Rohl is telling.
When he starts, Rangers concede at a significantly lower rate and keep clean sheets far more regularly.
Without him, the defensive record deteriorates and games become far more volatile, particularly in the latter stages.
His last start came in the win over Aberdeen in early January before an injury, during a spell where Rangers had won six of their previous seven matches and were building momentum in the title race.
Since then, that stability has eroded, replaced by performances that lack control across the full duration of matches.
What these recent results underline is not simply a tactical issue, but a structural one.
Rangers can dominate spells, even entire halves, but without a consistent presence to anchor the midfield, those periods are not sustained.
Barron provides that balance, allowing others to play while maintaining defensive discipline.
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As the title race slips away, the margins feel increasingly fine.
Yet across Motherwell, Hearts, Falkirk and Celtic, the same pattern keeps emerging.
Rangers are not being outplayed for 90 minutes, but they are losing control at decisive moments.
Barron’s absence has not been the only factor, but it has been a significant one, and its impact has been felt most when it matters.
Now, with their own title hopes on nothing more than life support, Rangers head to Celtic Park with the small consolation of finishing off the Hoops’ own title hopes as a small consolation.
If they are to at least deny their Old Firm rivals, Barron must return to the midfield to offer the calmness under pressure that has been missing during the recent run.
