Rangers

We asked for your views on Rangers' 1-0 win at St Mirren on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ronald: Just done enough but still not enough to enjoy.

Gavin: Three wins from next three and let's see what the table looks like. Good decision to replace John Souttar with Nasser Djiga, but Danny Rohl has to figure something out with the front four because it's not fluid and not producing goals.

Allan: Every title-winning Rangers team have had wins similar to this, it is the kind of result champions get when they are below their best. Three points and a clean sheet, that will do.

Alex: This was a disgraceful performance from Rangers - they looked tired, disinterested and lazy. They lacked the passion and fight required at this level. The forward line it toothless and Youssef Chermiti is as bad as being a man short. If Rohl cannot get a severe grip of this team then his job is also on the line. Far from title contenders.

Greig: The performance does not look from a team chasing down the title. We looked like we had a hangover from last week's cup defeat, needs to be a lot better if are to win the title. It's a win, but just!

Garry: A win is a win, but the strikers need to do more. We need to put games to bed. We need a winners' mentality.

Rangers moved to within three points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts thanks to a narrow victory at managerless St Mirren.

Read the match report

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Rangers manager Danny Rohl tells BBC Scotland: "Very happy. It's a tough place to come but we did well.

"We were organised and in the end we could have scored more. Good effort, good fight.

"Today was not about winning nice, it was about the result. We move forward with eight cup finals to go. This time of the year it's all about results.

"We are in a better position than before this matchday which is nice to have. It's tight at the top of the league.

"I totally believe the last matchday of the season will decide the champion of the league.

"Our mentality is excellent, we are always fighting for points and we have responded well to setbacks. We need this spirit and this fight."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Goalkeeper Jack Butland insists Rangers still have a "brilliant opportunity" to lift the Scottish Premiership title despite recent setbacks and trailing leaders Hearts by six points with nine matches remaining.

Losing their Scottish Cup quarter-final to Celtic on penalties last weekend means Danny Rohl's side's only chance of silverware this term is the league title.

Butland insists the Ibrox side are well placed to mount a real challenge between now and the end of the season.

"The biggest thing to do is to focus on what we have done, where we've come from," he explained.

"We've been in written off so many times this year. We were nowhere near it and we've got ourselves back in a fight with a real chance still.

"The easiest thing to do in this scenario within the last couple of weeks is that you focus on the negatives, which is what everyone loves to do the most.

"That's the most important thing for us as a squad, to realise what we've done to this point, but to take that and make sure that we carry it into the last nine games of the season."

"I don't think there's anyone that would look back at this group in September, October last year and think that it was capable.

"You get to this end of the season and one draw is like a complete damning opinion of everybody that we're not good enough anymore. That's just the nature of playing at this football club and what's expected of you.

"We've been in a lot worse position than we are right now. We're in a great position with the opportunity within a couple of weekends."

Celtic sit one point clear of Rangers in second place and could open up a four point gap if they defeat Motherwell at home on Saturday afternoon.

Hearts could also move nine points clear of the Ibrox side when they travel to Kilmarnock that evening, with Rangers facing St Mirren away on Sunday.

"The focus has got to be fully on that [St Mirren], not on what happens around us," Butland said.

"Two sides above us are going to play before. Whatever happens, happens. The only thing that matters is what we do on Sunday.

"I know people will make a lot about the results over the last couple of weeks, but we've gone into those games with an awful amount of belief.

"I know a lot has been made about the result [against Celtic] but I don't think that's a team that's struggling for belief or a team that's struggling for confidence.

"We have a brilliant opportunity and people need to remember that and a real belief that we can do it."

Butland insisted he doesn't fear for player safety after the ugly scenes at Ibrox last weekend when supporters spilled onto the pitch but

"What I think we're really trying to focus on is just safety of everyone involved," he said.

"I'm not concerned but it's not something that you can just ignore. That's not player safety, it's everybody.

"When you go to the football, you should be safe. It's not what we want to be involved in, but it's all about safety really and making sure that that sort of thing doesn't happen again."

Rangers remain open to offering captain James Tavernier a contract extension despite what has proved to be a mixed season for the 34-year-old right-back at Ibrox. (Football Insider), external

Tromso midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, for whom Rangers denied suggestions they were close to signing in January, says he rejected a move to Besiktas because he did not think the Turkish league was a step up from Norway's top flight. (TV2 via Daily Record), external

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch will invite injured Celtic and Rangers defenders Alistair Johnston and Derek Cornelius to join the national squad for their upcoming friendlies to exert influence off the field. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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St Mirren hope to welcome back Jonah Ayunga, but have a number of injury problems.

Marcus Fraser and Mika Mandron both face lengthy spells out with shoulder injuries, while Colin McMenamin and Malik Dijksteel are out with groin problems. Kion Etete is also a potential absentee.

Rangers have lost Mohamed Diomade to a minor shoulder injury, while Connor Barron (knee) and Derek Cornelius (muscle) are still out.

Danny Rohl is primed for "nine cup finals" as he attempts to defy the odds and lead Rangers to title glory this season.

Rangers are winless in three games and were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Celtic at Ibrox on penalties last weekend despite registering 24 shots compared to the visitors' one.

Rohl's men, with just two victories in their past six league outings, occupy third place in the Premiership and could be nine points behind leaders Hearts by the time of Sunday's trip to St Mirren.

Having analysed the derby defeat with his players, the German said: "We spoke about two things. There's the performance and there's the results.

"Especially now when you go into the nine cup finals, it's all about results. You get nothing from good performances.

"Compare the first game at home against Celtic where we dropped after 50 minutes to this game, then you see that we can carry on over 120 minutes how we want to play football. There was a lot of positive things but ultimately, football is all about results and we got nothing.

"There was disappointment over the three games because I'm totally convinced that we should have won all three games and we deserved to. But ultimately we gift them too many opportunities to win or to take the draw.

"We created a lot of opportunities in the box. We have done a lot of finishing and this was also part of this week. We need to keep our defensive structure. I think in open play, teams have not really had chances against us in all three games.

"You see it also in set-plays at the moment, at both ends. This is what we did really well in January and this is what we need again.

"But I totally believe in our process also there because we very often create situations where we can score."

Rohl was encouraged when he watched the cup game against Celtic again.

"I watched it back and there are so many patterns, how we are connected," he said. "Even how much we improved in open play from the first to the second game.

"When you look back at the chances, sometimes you have to give credit to the opponents' defender, so often they made the right block at the right moment. Sometimes we blocked our own [shot] on the line.

"We have to create more and more opportunities and then I am sure we can score again and again.

"The problem is we have conceded goals with less chances against us. This is what we have to stop so it is good to get in the lead and stay on the front foot."

Youssef Chermiti says his incredible Old Firm overhead kick will "live with me forever" after the Rangers striker took the Scottish Premiership player and goal of the month awards for February.

The 21-year-old netted a hat-trick in the 4-2 win over league leaders Hearts before scoring a double - including a stunning bicycle kick opener - in the 2-2 derby draw with Celtic on the final weekend of February.

"I am delighted to win this award," said Chermiti.

"My first goal against Celtic is something that will live with me forever. As a striker you want to play and score in these games and thankfully I have been able to do that several times this season.

"But I couldn't have achieved anything without my team-mates and the staff here at Rangers who have helped me settle at the club.

"Now I want to repay them and the supporters by continuing to score goals and help us win matches."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before Rangers visit St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Here are the key points:

• On the ugly scenes after their Scottish Cup quarter-final penalty shootout loss to Celtic, Rohl says: "Nobody likes to see this. It was over 120 minutes, an exciting game. It should not have happened. The emotional part was great during the game. This is great and makes football exciting. I like to have this Old Firm with supporters from both sides. I think there is an investigation and then finally there will be some consequence. Let's see what happens."

• Rohl fears the disorder will lead to away allocations in the derby being cut or removed: "Yeah, it would be a shame for all of us. I really enjoyed this game with the supporters on both ends, I think this is great. It makes the football exciting and hopefully we can carry on. But of course, if such a thing happens then you have to be careful because it could be that there's a consequence."

• On being knocked out of the cup in that manner, Rohl said: "It was important to clear the mind. In cup it is all about results. You get nothing from good performances, we know this. The result was not what we want. There was a lot of positive things but football is all about results then we got nothing."

• Rohl dismissed the idea there is extra pressure on his side in the title race having missed out on cup silverware.

• "It's not extra pressure because our demand is still in the league to win the nine cup finals," he explains. "We need a good position and then in the split I think everything is possible. We took a lot of good points against the teams around us and this should be our goal."

• Having been within two points of leaders Hearts at one stage and now trailing by six, Rohl conceded his side have to "bring the momentum back" after just three wins in their past nine fixtures in all competitions.

• "I expect in the split the results will be sometimes tight and crazy," he says. "Everyone can beat everyone and this is a good situation to reduce the gap. We beat Celtic, we beat Hibs, we beat Motherwell and we beat Hearts. I think that makes me very positive that we can do this again."

• When questioned on mentality given results have dropped at a crucial stage of the season, Rohl adds: "Sometimes it's football. It would be more this kind of problem if you dropped after the first game against Celtic and you cannot come back in the second game again to this point. I felt from the first minute we dominated a team who thought they can play just the second half against us again and they will win this game."

• He adds that Rangers have a "big trust in ourselves" and the title race is "still close, six points, it's two match days. Our goal difference is not so bad. This is also important".

• With St Mirren now searching for a new manager after Stephen Robinson's departure to Aberdeen, Rohl doesn't expect too much difference in approach. "I think at first the old manager did a good job there," he says. "I'm not sure if they change so much. I think there's stability in this group of players."

• Mohamed Diomande is not available this weekend because of a minor shoulder injury.

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Former striker Rory Loy thinks "serious questions" are starting to be asked of head coach Danny Rohl after Rangers failed to beat a depleted Celtic side in last weekend's Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Rangers had 24 shots and almost 60% possession over the 120 minutes at Ibrox, while Celtic had one shot and still took the tie to a shootout where they converted all their penalties as Rohl's side missed two.

That cup exit followed Rangers squandering a two-goal lead to draw at home to Celtic in the Premiership, where the Ibrox side's title challenge has faltered with a run of two wins in the past six league games.

"I don't think he's under serious pressure at this moment in time," Loy told the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.

"But I think serious questions will be asked of Danny Rohl as to how they didn't manage to beat Celtic, given the possession and dominance they had.

"His substitutions were questionable and serious questions will start to be asked about his in-game decisions.

"And there's not a lot of time in Glasgow between serious questions being asked about decisions to being under serious pressure. Because if you continue to make the wrong decisions and drop points, then the pressure mounts quickly.

"Some of the substitutions on Sunday baffled me, like Mikey Moore coming off. I know he looked a little bit tired, a little bit leggy, but he was the best player in the second half in a creative sense.

"Tochi Chukwuani should have started the game. When he came on I thought he was Rangers' best player in terms of getting on the ball and actually calming things down.

"At this moment in time, no, I don't think Rohl's under pressure for his job or anything like that, but that can change quickly."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn says the fan disorder at last week's Old Firm match has set Scottish football back "30 or 40 years".

Celtic fans initially spilled on to the pitch in celebration after a 4-2 win on penalties in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox before some Rangers supporters charged towards them.

Flares were thrown as police and stewards formed a barricade to separate the two groups of supporters. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the violent scenes that resulted in injuries to police officers, stewards and members of the public.

McGlynn says he feels it's a sad moment for the Scottish game when there has been so much to enjoy about this season.

"It doesn't paint a very nice picture," he said.

"It's a beautiful game, it's so cold, but there's nothing much beautiful about it.

"The game itself wasn't a great game of football and what happened afterwards, and by all accounts maybe what happened before, and all the rest of it, it's really taken us back maybe 30 or 40 years to Hampden and police horses on pitches and all that type of thing.

"It's sad. I'm football, I bleed football as you know, and it's not nice."

McGlynn hopes when Falkirk meet Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden in a few weeks there are no incidents between fans who have clashed in the past.

"I'm obviously concerned because there's bad blood between Falkirk and Dunfermline," he said.

"I'm just hoping that our game goes along and the football does the talking and there's no nonsense."

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Four days on on from the unsavoury scenes that followed Celtic's Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Rangers at Ibrox, there has been no response from either club.

Following the final whistle on Sunday, supporters of both clubs ran on to the Ibrox pitch and clashed as stewards and police separated the two sets of fans.

Since then, nine people have been arrested in connection with incidents that took place and Chief Constable Jo Farrell criticised the clubs for not condemning the disorder.

But The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan doesn't think the silence from Rangers and Celtic is a bad thing.

"I'm okay with that," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I know that's a minority view.

"Jo Farrell, the chief constable, said that she thought it was out of order, that they should be saying something.

"I understand that viewpoint but my worry would be that anything you do say would make things worse because you have two sets of fans who are desperate to point fingers at the other side of the city.

"It would be difficult for those clubs to come out and criticise their own fans for their own conduct without incurring the wrath and sparking some kind of civil war, particularly at Celtic where there's already one raging.

"And it wouldn't be helpful at all if they came out and pointed fingers at 'the other lot'.

"I don't think that would look good in the eyes of politicians. I don't think it would look good in eyes of the police. I don't think the SFA would necessarily welcome that."

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• Although Rangers have only won one of their past five league matches against St Mirren (D2 L2), that was their most recent in December (2-1).

• Rangers are unbeaten in 12 league games (W8 D4), their longest run since going 17 without defeat from November 2022 to April 2023.

• St Mirren - who have an interim coaching team in place following Stephen Robinson's move to Aberdeen - have only won one of their past 13 league games (D4 L8), a 1-0 home win over leaders Hearts in February.

• Youssef Chermiti has scored five of Rangers' past seven league goals. His five goals in his last three league games are more than he scored in his first 18 Scottish Premiership appearances beforehand (four).

• St Mirren are unbeaten in three home league games against Rangers (W1 D2), last going four without defeat against them in April 1984.

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Rangers will eventually sell Emmanuel Fernandez for "£30m or even £40m", reckons Peterborough director of football Barry Fry, with the League One side selling the centre-half for £3m last summer. (Scottish Sun - subscription required), external

Rangers supporters will receive an allocation of 2,500 tickets for their trip to Celtic Park later this season. (Daily Record - subscription required), external

Former Rangers players Ian Durrant and Barry Ferguson were surprised by Danny Rohl's decision to withdraw Mikey Moore during the Ibrox side's Scottish Cup loss to Celtic. (Glasgow Times), external

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

So it's only the league title to play for now for Rangers and there is simply no further room for error if they want to bring that to a successful conclusion.

Having dropped points in four of their past six games, it would be foolhardy to suggest they look like a team capable of stringing together the sequence of results that would overhaul Celtic and Hearts.

Time and again this season they have suffered from a lack of a cutting edge, a failure to either break down stubborn defences or put teams away while on top and unless they can remedy that in their final nine games, it is going to be another trophyless season at Ibrox.

Given the amount of money spent in the summer and in January, that would be pretty scant reward and doubtless would lead to much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

For the moment, though, Danny Rohl must remain positive that he can restore the belief required to put together a winning run, though most supporters will surely be resigning themselves to further disappointment.

They can perhaps take some solace from their dominance of three-quarters of the two games against Celtic, even though they failed to win either.

The level of performance, particularly in the first half of the league game, was good, but another key failing this season has been the inability to sustain that level over an entire match.

Victory over St Mirren on Sunday is non-negotiable. Anything less will surely be fatal to their faint title hopes and the recriminations will be severe.