'No sense': Rangers' thinking on transfers becomes clearer as Danny Rohl makes title stance

It is quite a turnaround since the days of Russell Martin. When Rohl’s predecessor left in October, after just 17 games in charge, the Ibrox side were eighth. They have now won 10 of the German’s 18 matches in charge, including the last four – it is the first time Rangers have won four matches in a row for 13 months.

They were 13 points adrift of leaders Hearts when Rohl arrived. Now the gap stands at just three although Rangers have played a game more.

Rohl hailed the impact of new set-piece coach Scott Fry. The 47-year-old joined the club six weeks ago. Both of Rangers’ goals in the 2-0 home win over Aberdeen were sourced from corner kicks. Manny Fernandez headed in the first from Connor Barron’s corner after 11 minutes and man-of-the-match Nico Raskin headed in a second four minutes before half time, again from a Barron corner kick.

“It's very important that you have a lot of tools how you can score,” said Rohl. “And also in the set-play we invest a lot of time on the pitch and off the pitch. Scott is doing a fantastic job in this part.”

“We have to improve if we want to be top of the league,” he added. “If you want to be at the top of the league, you have to improve in all the parts. We are in a good way, but it's just the next three points, not more, and we have to continue.”

Rangers take on Aberdeen again this weekend at Pittodrie. Rohl is hopeful of adding more players in the current transfer window. Lyall Cameron and Findlay Curtis were notable absences from the latest squad. Both players have been linked with loan moves away.

Rohl on Rangers transfers

“We are in the process,” the manager said. “We work on this, I cannot tell who is in the squad by the end of the window, I think especially with young players it's about getting minutes and development, and then we have to make good decisions, what is the best for some players.

“It makes no sense to keep them and they do not get minutes, I think this is crucial. For me it's not always about performance on the pitch during the game, but also during the week. How is the training performance? You see at the moment it's also not easy to come in the squad.”

On the prospect of new players arriving, he added: “I'm positive that we will not sign all the players on the last day! I think we can do something.

"If I say in the next two days, then in three days you will ask me why (they are not here). But I'm more positive. It could be at the end of the window you find someone that can really make a big difference, and then you can go again. But we are clear on which positions we want to do something, we are clear on which profiles we need, and now it's about convincing them.”

Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven, who was joined in the dugout by Pittodrie director of football Lutz Pfannenstiel, took some positives from his side’s display.

Aberdeen forward Kenan Bilalovic wasted two good chances in the opening half and the visitors hit the post late in the game.

“I'm disappointed to lose the goals that we lost,” said Leven. "But the boys reacted the way I wanted. The pressing was good, the intensity, the fight was there. At times when we do play, we look like a good team.

"I thought we had enough chances to take something from the game. I think we had clearer chances (to score goals ourselves). You need to take these opportunities. Just add a little bit of end product, a little bit of composure.”