Rangers belief swells for title as Danny Rohl makes 'smiling' Hearts revelation amid late injury fear

Tuur Rommens’ 31st-minute goal settled matters at the SMiSA Stadium as Rangers tasted victory for the first time in a month. With leaders Hearts having lost 1-0 at Kilmarnock on Saturday night, Rohl took pleasure in watching his side seize their opportunity and move to within three points of the Jam Tarts.

Eight games now remain in the league, with Hearts on 63 points, Celtic on 61 and Rangers on 60. All three teams will play each other again after the split and Rohl feels he is seeing enough from his squad in their recent displays to demonstrate that they can finish top of the pile.

“Honestly, our performances in the last couple of weeks, even though the result was not there,” Rohl said on what gives him confidence. “I felt how strong we can press, we have a physical side, we have weapons in front, we can score nice goals, and if you bring all this together then we can win a lot of games until the end of the season.

“I see my group growing, and since I'm here there's never a day where I think ‘ooh, they have so much doubt in their mind.’ No, they go again, they go again, and we are hungry. Not more, I know this, it's just a small step. Eight cup finals now, and at this stage of the season it's about winning the cup finals.

”For you it's fantastic, I think so, and for me as well. We worked hard to come closer, and I can just repeat, final match day, that will be the decision this year, not earlier.”

Rohl admitted that watching Hearts lose the night before gave him a lift. “I would be lying if I said I was not smiling after this, this is normal,” said the German. “But I know in the next week it's again, and we have to deliver again. And it goes now a little bit up and down, this team who is now consistently until the end and take the right results, will win this league.”

Rohl was full of praise for matchwinner Rommens, who has impressed since arriving from Westerlo two months ago. The left-back was a major injury doubt for the match, but recovered sufficiently to make a big difference.

“Tuur didn't train two days because he got a big kick, and it was a big question mark, but Jayden [Meghoma] was well-prepared for this, and Tuur comes back yesterday in the training,” explained Rohl. “He performed today, he scored. Against Livingston and Celtic, two of his moments as well, and this is what I want to see from my full-backs, to be in the right position to score on the second post, and this was fantastic.”

Rohl also welcomed midfielder Connor Barron back after an absence stretching back to January 6. “He worked really hard in the last couple of weeks, but especially in the six position, there's a big competition at the moment with Nico, Tochi, Connor and Dio,” added Rohl. “And it's not easy for me, because all these four deserve to play, how they train, all the four number sixes gives me different profiles.”