'Angry': Rangers post-mortem begins as downbeat Danny Rohl is blunt on title and 'Hearts things'

Rangers controlled the first half and took a deserved lead when Dujon Sterling’s effort deflected home via Michael Steinwender on 23 minutes. However, they failed to deal with Hearts’ fightback. Stephen Kingsley levelled on 54 minutes and then Lawrence Shankland drilled home the winner on 71 minutes.

While Rangers arithmetically can still win the league, the odds are now stacked against them. They sit third with three games to play, seven points behind Hearts ahead of their trip to Celtic Park on Sunday. Should Hearts defeat Motherwell on Saturday night, the Ibrox side’s challenge will be officially over. Rohl accepted the likelihood of silverware is slim.

Asked what impact the defeat by Hearts has on Rangers’ title hopes, Rohl replied: “Yeah, a big one. I think there's no question mark. We're in a really difficult situation now.

“I think we worked so hard to come so close in the last two games. It's not enough when you play just one half on your best level. I think this is what we have to take, and this is also what I demand in the next three games. I think there's no question mark, we have to show courage, and this is what I expect and demand of my players in the next three games, to take three fantastic results.”

Rohl was left angered by Rangers’ inability to replicate their first-half performance in the second period. He explained that he warned the players what to expect from the hosts but lamented how they coped with “Hearts making Hearts things”.

Rohl: We couldn’t deal with ‘Hearts things’

The German head coach continued: “I think the first half there were positive things. We showed in the first half maybe one of the best away performances against a strong side. We dominated the game with the ball and against the ball, a good net, ready for the second ball. We kept the ball well, we found the spaces.

“Then you know you go into half-time, and half-time was clear from my side. I said ‘guys, we start again by 0-0, we have to win the second half.’ Then you come out, we are not convinced enough to press, we dropped, we dropped. Then Hearts made Hearts things. They played more channel balls, more around, and when you look back, the two goals are really similar.

“We spoke in the half-time how we'd have to defend these situations now, where we will come, and we didn't in this moment. If we do it not with consequence and with purpose over 95 minutes, then it's a result. And then I think everyone knows when the home crowd, after the 1-1, is coming, then it's a little bit a different game. In the first half the stadium was really quiet because we controlled the game.

“I think they dominate with the Hearts football, what we expect, and if you have not enough pressure on the ball, you allow them to come in areas where they should normally not be. But you still have to defend, especially the 2-1. In this situation, when you make a stop when the cross ball comes, I'm not sure how much is the percentage to score from this situation, and this is not enough. We should be really angry about us today that we bring the opponent back, and this is what we have to learn very soon, very quick, to make the next step.

“I want to see a team that plays 95, 100 minutes on the best level, and this is [not] what we are at the moment, and this is a little bit a shame. In this time of the year, when you come not to the highest level, then there are opponents, this is the reason why it's a top-six split, they can play on a level, they can create something. And for this you have to play on the highest level, and this is also not enough.”

Rohl now must rouse his players for Sunday’s Old Firm clash away at Celtic. He conceded that the rate of improvement in his team may not be enough for this campaign but urged them to learn lessons - and fast.

“This is more for me what I take from this season, and to know exactly what we have to do better in the next season,” Rohl added. “I see a lot of improvements, but it is finally maybe not good enough to win the title this year. But we have still nine points to play for, this is what we have to do, and from this moment I push them again in the right direction.”

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