- Rangers fall seven points behind Hearts after Tynecastle defeat, title hopes now hanging by a thread.
- Strong first half undone by second-half collapse and loss of control.
- Danny Rohl and Bojan Miovski admit performance levels not enough to win the league.
Rangers’ title challenge is hanging by a thread after defeat to Hearts, with both Bojan Miovski and head coach Danny Rohl striking a tone that mixed fading belief with acceptance of reality.
Seven points adrift with just three games remaining.
The mathematics may still offer hope, but the message from the dressing room suggests Rangers know the race has slipped away.
First-half control, second-half collapse
Rohl was clear in his assessment of where the game was lost.
“We were very strong in the first 45-50 minutes,” he said.
We dominated the game with the ball and against the ball.”
Rangers produced one of their most controlled away performances of the season in the opening period, limiting Hearts and dictating play.
Yet the manager pointed to a complete drop-off after the break.
“We said at half-time we start again at 0-0, we have to win the second half,” Rohl revealed.
“Then we come out and we are not convinced enough to press, we dropped, we dropped.
“If we do it not with consequence and purpose over 95 minutes, then it is the result.”
Miovski echoed that frustration from a player’s perspective, highlighting a failure to put the game out of reach.
“We should have killed the game in the first half,” he said.
“We gave them a chance in the second half.”
A familiar and costly pattern for Danny Rohl
The defeat followed a now recurring theme of Rangers failing to sustain performance levels across a full match, something Rohl admitted is defining their season.
“I want to see a team that plays 95 or 100 minutes on the best level, this is not enough.”
Miovski was even more direct in his assessment of what is required to win a title.
“If you fight for the league you cannot play like we did in the second half.”
Rangers have repeatedly shown they can dominate spells, even entire halves, but the inability to maintain control has proved fatal in key moments.
Against Hearts, as in recent matches, they allowed the game to turn rather than managing it.
Accountability and missed opportunities
Both manager and striker pointed to self-inflicted issues rather than being outplayed.
“We should be really angry about us today that we bring the opponent back,” Rohl admitted.
Miovski reinforced that sense of responsibility.
“We brought them to the game, we shouldn’t do that,” he admitted frustratingly.
Across the campaign, dropped points have accumulated, and this latest defeat felt like another missed opportunity in a title race shaped by fine margins.
“This league is like a marathon, today was really important to win,” the striker added.
Belief remains publicly from Danny Rohl, but reality sets in
Publicly, neither figure has abandoned hope.
“Of course there’s always hope, mathematically we’re still here,” said Miovski.
His coach struck a similar note, demanding a response in the final fixtures.
“We have to show courage, to take three fantastic results in the next three games.”
Yet both also hinted at a broader acceptance.
The language has shifted from chasing the title to learning lessons and finishing strongly.
“I see a lot of improvements, but it is finally maybe not good enough to win the title this year,” Rohl conceded.
Miovski, meanwhile, looked ahead with a longer-term perspective.
“We need to finish this season strong for the next season.”
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With Rangers now seven points behind and time all but out, the gap between belief and reality is narrowing.
Performances like this, where control is established but not sustained, have ultimately defined their campaign.
There may still be points to play for, but the tone from both dressing room and dugout suggests Rangers are already beginning to process what has slipped away, while turning their attention to what must come next.
They have the small consolation prize of denying Celtic a record-setting league title number 56 by winning at Parkhead on Sunday.
It would keep Rangers level on Premiership titles won.
But in reality, with the Hoops struggles this year, despite their early season malaise under Russell Martin, this is a league the Gers should have romped too.
