- Rangers lost four consecutive league matches for the first time since 1983 after Hibs secured victory at Ibrox.
- James Tavernier’s expected farewell turned chaotic amid reports of a fallout with manager Danny Rohl.
- The German’s silence on officiating controversies projects weakness and damages Rangers further as Hearts boss takes swipe at Celtic penalty.
Rangers slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat in the Premiership last night, going down to Hibernian at Ibrox as the visitors secured fifth spot.
It marks the first occasion the Gers have lost four on the trot since 1983.
This has turned up the heat on Danny Rohl amid a chaotic evening.
The match was a dead rubber in terms of the title race, with Rangers confirmed in third spot after three defeats to Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic ended their Premiership bid.
Instead, the focus was on what was expected to be the final Ibrox appearance of long-serving skipper James Tavernier.
However, the whole situation quickly became a farce.
Rangers are a joke at the moment – On and off the park
Tavernier was left out amid reports of a fallout with Rohl, Martin Boyle scored within the first few minutes before Thelo Aasgaard restored parity.
David Gray made substitutions and tactical switches that once again outfoxed Rohl and Dane Scarlett won the match for Hibs in the final moments.
The sparce Ibrox crowd had little to celebrate, with the biggest cheer coming on 85-minutes when Liam Gordon’s header for Motherwell at Fir Park against Celtic looked to have all-but-handed Hearts the title.
But even that ended in dismay.
Referee called out despite Rohl’s radio silence
Celtic would win it in the final moment with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring a penalty given in contentious circumstances.
Hearts did their job at home to Falkirk, Derek McInnes’s side getting the three points that keep them in pole position ahead of the final day clash at Celtic Park.
But for Rangers, the comments of McInnes show what is missing in Govan and from Rohl.
While Steelmen boss Jens Bethal Askou called the decision “shocking” and “a shame for the game,” the Hearts boss was more forthright in his criticism of the officials.
What Derek McInnes said?
“I think it’s disgusting. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick,” McInnes told Sky Sports.
“We’re up against it, we’re up against everybody and we’ll be ready for Saturday.
“There were two more shouts for a penalty kick at our game at Motherwell. If I’m Motherwell, I’m really disappointed with that having seen it again.
“I think it’s so poor that they’ve been given that penalty.
“They’ve been very fortunate on that side of it and we have to realise we’re up against everything.
“We need to just go and deal with the game on Saturday.”
A clear dig from the former Rangers midfielder on supposed favouritism towards Celtic from officials in recent weeks.
But also, pressure on them ahead of Hearts’ crucial match in the Lion’s Den on Saturday.
By calling out the perceived disparity in decision making, he has put the microscope firmly on Willie Collum and his officiating team.
Danny Rohl stays quiet on officials
Something Rangers boss Danny Rohl has refused to do.
After the League Cup semi-final, in which Aasgaard was dismissed for a Gers high-boot, whilst Austin Trusty avoided a red card for a kick to the head of Jack Butland, ending in a Hoops victory over ten-man Rangers, he refused to be overly critical of the officials.
“I haven’t watched the red card back yet but that’s the referee’s decision,” he said at the time.
“It’s not my part to speak about this. My focus is always on myself. I said before the game I won’t speak about other managers, other teams or refs.
This refusal to challenge the status quo left Rohl in the same predicament on Sunday, as Celtic defeated the Gers in the latest Old Firm.
Alistair Johnston survived a reckless challenge with a yellow card, Celtic levelled with a controversial goal, which many claim to be offside and Daizen Maeda, who won the match for Martin O’Neill’s side was not booked until late on despite double-digit fouls throughout the game.
However, the German’s comments after the game were eerily similar yet again.
“I’m at first not a guy who looks for excuses for some decisions,” he said.
“What I heard so far, I didn’t see until now, that maybe there was an offside situation, I didn’t see it again.
“The foul felt on the pitch really aggressive, but I didn’t see it again.
“Some other people make the decision and if the decision is like this then we cannot change it now.”
Even when pressed on whether refereeing decisions should be reviewed more critically, Rohl refused to escalate the issue.
“If it’s the case that maybe it should be not allowed or red card, then hopefully someone takes responsibility,” he added.
“But this is crucial, we cannot change it now.”
That line of thinking has become increasingly consistent throughout his tenure.
ReadRangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
That approach may be admirable in principle, but football management, particularly at a club like Rangers, is as much about controlling the narrative and defending your dressing room publicly as it is about tactics on the pitch.
Right now, Rohl is losing both battles.
While McInnes applied pressure, created scrutiny and rallied his support behind a siege mentality.
At Ibrox, the Rangers manager once again projected acceptance.
In isolation, that restraint might be seen as professionalism.
In the context of repeated contentious incidents and a team now spiralling towards a fifth straight league defeat, it risks looking passive.
Fairly or unfairly, supporters expect the Rangers manager to fight every corner of the club’s case.
Something the likes of Walter Smith, Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard would do regularly.
Especially in the aftermath of Old Firm controversy and mounting frustration around officiating standards.
Silence can quickly be interpreted as weakness.
However, refereeing decisions are not the reason Rangers’ season has collapsed.
Their failures run far deeper than that.
But in Scottish football, perception matters, pressure matters and influencing the conversation matters.
Danny Rohl appears unwilling, or unable, to do any of them.
