What now for Rohl's Rangers as title hopes fade?

Rangers' Scottish Premiership title challenge has been undone by two damaging defeats by Motherwell and Hearts. What now for Danny Rohl and his players? Seven points off the Scottish Premiership summit. Four points behind second place. Rangers' title challenge has been dismantled in two games after Danny Rohl's side had, in his own words, "worked so hard" to get in the fight.

Dujon Sterling's deflected volley had Rangers in front and their overall performance merited such a lead. By 90 minutes, Hearts had scored twice without reply and Rangers, save for a late header off the bar by Thelo Aasgaard, never looked like recovering. And therein lies Rangers' Achilles heel this season - the inability to consistently produce over 90 minutes. Against Motherwell, Rangers were outplayed in the first half and trailed 2-0. In the previous game, Rangers also conceded two first-half goals but eventually ran out 6-3 winners at Falkirk.

Those Celtic, Motherwell and Hearts games in particular have undone the progress made previously under Rohl this term. Rangers had lost just twice in 33 games before the split, and have now lost consecutive games at the most crucial stage of the campaign. Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd gave his assessment on Rangers in the wake of their Tynecastle loss on Sky Sports. "There will be mentality questions asked of Rangers," he said. This isn't a one-off, Rangers choking." However, Rohl said: "This is not about mentality.

When he arrived in October to replace Russell Martin, Rangers were, after a significant summer squad overhaul, 13 points behind Hearts and eight off Celtic. Improved form up until mid-April had Rangers within a point of Hearts, and in front of Celtic, before those recent losses pulled them back to third. Only a win at Celtic Park on Sunday, combined with a concession of points by Hearts at Motherwell the night before, will give Rangers any hope in the final two games of the season. Defeat on Sunday would consign Rangers to their first third-placed finish since 2018. When Rangers won 3-1 at Celtic Park in December, it was the last match of Wilfried Nancy's short spell in charge of the hosts.

By the time of their March Scottish Cup quarter-final with Celtic, O'Neill had been back in charge of Celtic since January. Rangers pressed and pressed without end product and Celtic won on penalties after 120 goalless minutes at Ibrox. "How we make decisions in moments, this is really a part that we really have to improve." Rangers' Scottish Premiership title challenge has been undone by two damaging defeats by Motherwell and Hearts. What now for Danny Rohl and his players? What now for Rohl's Rangers as title hopes fade?