Rangers

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Rangers boss Danny Rohl feels his team have "surprised a lot of people" with their upturn in form since he took charge.

The Ibrox club are up to second in the Premiership - three points behind Hearts, albeit having played a game more - after beating managerless Aberdeen 2-0 to make it four successive wins for the first time in over a year.

When Rohl took over in October, Rangers were sixth, eight points behind Celtic and 13 adrift of Hearts. The German has overseen 10 wins, two draws and one defeat in his 13 league matches.

"I have a fantastic coaching team, it's not a one-man show," the former Sheffield Wednesday boss said.

"We're doing this together with the club, with my players, with the coaches, with the staff behind the coaches, I think we're growing together.

"I don't know, I think we are on a fantastic way, I think we surprised a lot of people since I came here.

"But for me it's about the next, I'm hungry, I'm ambitious, I know what it means and what effort we need until the end of the season."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Rangers supporters could be forgiven for starting to get just a little bit excited about what this season might bring after a fourth consecutive league win last night took them to within three points of the summit.

It was a dominant performance and while not without its flaws, a swagger has begun to return to their play and for the first time in a long time players look like they are enjoying their football.

Nicolas Raskin, in particular, looks much closer to the top of his game, dictating play from the middle of the park and with a bit of good fortune he could have had a hat-trick against Aberdeen.

As it was, he had to settle for one - the beneficiary, like Emmanuel Fernandez before him, of a good delivery from Connor Barron and some hard work, no doubt, on the training ground with set-piece coach Scott Fry.

Rangers have struggled to score from open play at times this season and so an ability to convert dead-ball situations into goals has become all the more important as they have clawed their way back into title contention.

Rangers have scored the third-most goals from set-pieces in the league - 12 to Dundee United's 13 and Hearts' 16. But since Fry was appointed in mid-November, they have scored more than anyone - seven compared with six by United and five by Hearts.

Rangers' tally midway through the season is already just one behind the 13 they scored from such situations in each of the past two campaigns. If they can maintain this improved ratio, it will be a huge boost to their title prospects.

Nonetheless, no one watching that game, least of all Danny Rohl, will believe they are anywhere near the finished article and January reinforcements are a must.

Aberdeen could conceivably have won the game had they taken some of the clear-cut chances that came their way and despite a good defensive record this season, Rohl must be alarmed by the way Rangers can still be pretty easily carved open.

But if Rangers can strengthen in the right areas during this window Rohl has shown he can get results - no one has more points in the league since he took over - and suddenly the prospect of challenging for the title is not a fanciful one.

We asked for your thoughts after Rangers moved up to second in the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win against Aberdeen at Ibrox.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Grant: Rangers controlled the game. However, Aberdeen had a few moments where they could have nicked a couple. Bojan Miovski is dire and Thelo Aasgaard very negative in possession. That all said we are in the race, a big game on Sunday, three points away to Aberdeen would be massive.

Allan: A solid performance and justification for hiring a set-piece coach. Midfield were very good, and Emmanuel Fernandez was defensively good at times, but he needs to get his passes out of defence quicker and more accurate. He will cost Rangers goals if he continues to carry on like he currently is.

David: Hard to accurately rate our performance against such a submissive opponent, game a bit flat and very one-sided as a result. Any chances Aberdeen had were more the result of our carelessness in possession or ongoing issues with long balls over the top. Good to see us moving the ball around well and we put together some excellent moves. Connor Barron excellent once again.

William: Was at the game last night against Aberdeen. It looked a different Rangers team from the ones I've been watching recently, passing was great and if they play like that every game no one is beating them.

Louise: Another decent win under Danny Rohl. It is incredible what he has done for this team and the belief he is instilling in the players is definitely showing in our performance which is steadily improving. Connor Barron was everywhere once again and two great headers to give us a comfortable lead. I don't think many Rangers fans thought we would be sitting second at the start of the new year a few months ago. Rohl must be able to add to his squad in January and continue to strengthen the team.

Steven: This game was about getting the three points and in the end, it was comfortable without being spectacular or easy on the eye at times. Despite his goals, Fernandez continues to worry me and in Rohl's defence, he's probably playing due to others being injured. Midfield looks solid without being dynamic but winning games and building up a head of steam is what it's all about until the end of the season.

Watch the best of the action as Rangers ease past managerless Aberdeen to leapfrog Celtic and move up to second in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

Nico Raskin credits Rangers captain James Tavernier's influence after scoring the Ibrox side's second in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Aberdeen. (Herald - subscription required), external

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl praises the impact of set piece coach Scott Fry. (Sun), external

Rohl "can't say who will be in the squad by the end of the window" as Rangers do not know "if we can do everything we want" with transfers in January. (Record), external

Former Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield, 37, is in talks to join Livingston. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "Fantastic, three points, clean sheet. All in all, very proud of the group at the moment.

"We close the gap to just three points from 13 when I arrived. It's a statement but still not what we want. We're on a journey, it's about the next game on Sunday.

"When I took over two years ago at Sheffield Wednesday we were 12, 13 points under the line. In the end we survived. In football, everything is possible.

"It's about small steps, belief, bringing confidence back and trusting the players. At the moment we're in a good way but have a lot of things to do."

Rohl says Mikey Moore suffered a muscle problem but hopes it's not serious.

He also suggests strengthening midfield is a priority in the transfer window.

Rangers strolled to victory over dismal and managerless Aberdeen to move above Celtic and just three points behind leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

What did you make of Rangers' performance?

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

What a great start to the new year.

Coming from behind to win is always nice, but the 3-1 derby victory at Parkhead provided an extra level of satisfaction.

The level of both managers was shown in a game of two halves. First half, Rangers were a mess, lacked control and belief, and if it wasn't for Jack Butland we would have been more than one behind at the break.

However, Danny Rohl deserves credit for changing shape, going with Nicolas Raskin, Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande in midfield and wrestling control of the game away from Celtic.

It's not our fault Celtic are terrible at the back, that's on their players and former manager. However, for Youssef Chermiti to finally show what he's all about with two goals and a Daniel Cousin-esque performance was in keeping with the bonkers season so far.

And by the time Mikey Moore made it 3-1, you knew Celtic were done for and the three points were in the bag.

As poor as Rangers were in the first half, the second half was superb, full of energy and aggression on and off the ball and three superb goals.

The challenge for Rangers now is to back up this result with a victory against Aberdeen, and the board have to do their bit and back the manager in the transfer window.

Hopefully the derby success will prove a massive win in terms of mentality for this squad.

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• Rangers have only lost their first home league game in one of the past 40 calendar years (W33 D6), going down 2-0 to Celtic in 2011. The Ibrox club have won the past five occasions their first such match of a year has been against Aberdeen, each without conceding.

• Rangers have won seven of their past eight home games against Aberdeen in all competitions, including their latest four in a row since a 3-1 reverse in September 2023.

• Aberdeen have only won one of their past six league meetings with Rangers (D2 L3), and could lose back-to-back Scottish Premiership clashes with them for the first time since December 2022 (three in a row).

• After only winning two of their first seven home league games of this season (D4 L1), Rangers have since won their past three at Ibrox.

• Aberdeen have only won one of their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D2 L8), a 1-0 victory away to Kilmarnock in October.

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Rangers defender Nasser Djiga is at the Africa Cup of Nations. Derek Cornelius, Nedim Bajrami and Oliver Antman remain out with muscle injuries.

Aberdeen have a fitness doubt over Adil Aouchiche and are still missing defenders Gavin Molloy and Kristers Tobers with knee injuries.

Rangers "are working on some things" in the transfer market, says head coach Danny Rohl. (Glasgow Times), external

Colombian winger Oscar Cortes, 22, is close to ending his loan spell at Sporting Gijon from Rangers so he can move to Huracan in Argentina. (El Comercio - in Spanish), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Jack Butland (Rangers): Made a real difference in keeping Rangers in the game as the Celtic storm raged in the first half. No clean sheet due to the sheer power of the Yang shot but an overall impressive display.

Youssef Chermiti (Rangers): The outstanding subplot of the Old Firm derby. The two goals from Chermiti must have felt like a huge moment for this much-maligned striker. Can this now be the launchpad for his Rangers career?

Watch former Rangers striker Steven Naismith analyse Youssef Chermiti's match-winning Old Firm goals.

The big-money summer signing, brought in for a reported deal worth £10m, scored twice as Danny Rohl's men earned a statement comeback win at Celtic Park.

"When you sign for that amount money, this is the minimum requirement," BBC Scotland pundit Naismith said on Sportscene.

"The past two games, he's put in two good performances."

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Westerlo head coach Issame Charai, formerly the assistant at Rangers, says the Ibrox club have not bid for 22-year-old left-back Tuur Rommens as yet. (Sun), external

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has spoken to midfielder Elliot Watt, 25, about reported interest from Rangers. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Watch highlights as Rangers come from behind to earn a crucial Old Firm derby win at under-pressure Wilfried Nancy's Celtic.

Available in UK only

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Midfielder Connor Barron shut down Scottish Premiership title talk despite Rangers fighting back to earn a statement win at fellow challengers Celtic.

A 3-1 victory at Parkhead moved Danny Rohl's men level on points with their city rivals in second, with Hearts six clear at the summit.

With another win at home to Aberdeen on Tuesday, Rangers will increase pressure on the Jambos by cutting their lead to three.

Former Dons player Barron said: "Every win, you get that belief and you get that excitement, but Saturday is just another win for us.

"It's obviously derby day and a lot of talk around the game, but you've got to block that out.

"You've got to go there and do your job, which we did and we look forward to Aberdeen, so it's taking it game by game.

"Obviously, nobody's stupid. We all look at the league table. We're all in football, but it's our job to stay focused."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

"This is what I work for, this is what everyone works for," were the words of Youssef Chermiti after his match-winning Old Firm derby display.

"If you want to be a big player, you have to play for the big clubs and [deal with] big pressure," he added on Sky Sports.

The 21-year-old has often been a source of frustration for the Rangers support and a source of comedy for opposing fans during a testing introduction to his time in Scotland - but has he now ignited his Ibrox career?

Improved showings in recent starts against Motherwell and St Mirren meant he was included in Saturday's XI at Celtic Park, even with Bojan Miovski returning to the squad.

However, in a disjointed and ragged first half for Rangers, Chermiti cut an isolated figure, completing just three passes in 45 minutes as Celtic overwhelmed Danny Rohl's men.

By the full-time whistle, though, the forward had scored twice while winning more duels and completing more dribbles than any other player on the pitch.

He showed a clinical side that many have felt he has lacked, scoring with his only efforts in a hostile environment.

His first goal, which levelled the game, was a poacher's finish, getting himself between the posts to convert Nico Raskin's ball across goal before calamitous Celtic defending allowed him to drive forward and bury a second just nine minutes later.

"Paying back a chunk of that transfer fee," former Rangers winger and coach Neil McCann said on Sky Sports as Chermiti wheeled away to celebrate in front of a delirious pocket of away fans.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd added: "There have been questions asked of him because of his fee, rightly so, I've been one of them asking the questions.

"But, tell you what, to come to Celtic Park and get two goals..."

Hailing his performance post-match, Rangers boss Rohl said of Chermiti: "He worked for the group, he's smart. He's also very aggressive with his body.

"He can keep the ball, he can carry the ball. He was outstanding in one-against-one situations. But, especially as a group in the second half, we were connected, we were organised.

"It will give him more and more belief. I think I saw from the beginning something on him, but it was more ups and downs, and now it's about consistency."

READ MORE: How unlikely hero Chermiti ignited Rangers title charge