Rangers

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Barry Ferguson has praised Rangers head coach Danny Rohl, saying he would never have believed the German could have steered the team back into the title race this season.

Former Ibrox captain Ferguson, who worked as interim boss at Rangers in the second half of last season, admits it wasn't pleasant watching from afar as Russell Martin's tenure ended in disaster but he has admired how Rohl has turned things around.

"I never enjoyed the start of the season," he told BBC Scotland. "Since Danny Rohl has come in in October, I think he's really drove the team forward .

"If you had asked me back in October, if Rangers would be in a title fight, I would have looked at you in a strange way. I'm really positive about what's happened in the last four months and I'm looking forward to the business end of the season starting.

"I'm very impressed with how he carries himself and how he comes across in his press conferences.

"I also like what he's doing on the field. He's very flexible in terms of formations. I like the business he did in January in the transfer window too.

"Am I impressed? 100%. I admire what he's done because this club needs silverware and he's got us to a stage where we are really in the mix now."

Ferguson also thinks the Rangers support are playing their part in the revival, and can help the team in the crucial league run-in and Scottish Cup push.

"They are always so important," he said. "I was at the Hearts game and the place was electric, the best I have heard in a long time.

"I think the fans understand where the team are at the moment because four months ago I think we were sitting second bottom of the league.

"The fans will always get behind the team if they give 100% and I think the energy they bring certainly helps the boys that are on the pitch."

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Former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson believes his old side's goal threat gives them the upper hand in the title race, while football analyst and Rangers John Walker says Rangers could be confident about the title with Claudio Braga in their ranks.

The most competitive fight for the Premiership trophy in years was debated on the Scottish Football Podcast and firepower was the focus, with both guests agreeing it will be decisive.

"Lawrence Shankland is out and Claudio Braga has scored but if you look at Rangers' top two goalscorers this season it's Youssef Chermiti and James Tavernier both on seven goals," Neilson said. "At Celtic it's Benjamin Nygren on 14.

"Hearts have got Shankland on 11 who has missed a lot of games, Braga is on 11, Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay have five. They've got goals right throughout the team and they're not relying on one player. Potentially two, three years ago, before they had this really strong squad, if Shankland went out, that was the title challenge gone because they didn't have goals.

"They've got a great squad now that they can do that. Whereas if you look at Celtic, Nygren comes out of the team who's scoring the goals? Or if he has a bad day? Who's scoring the goals? Hearts have got that in the background."

Walker believes switching one player from the leaders over to Ibrox would make Rangers title favourites.

"If Rangers had Braga to call on and put in the starting XI, I would be confident about the title," he said.

"Hearts have got the best two forwards in the league. Rangers and Celtic are looking at teams with their centre forwards and saying things like 'He held the ball up well today. His link-up play was good,' and then you see Braga go to Ibrox and almost every touch he does is perfect, technically sound and he has pace."

"If Hearts have a four-point buffer going into the split with Shankland, Findlay and Braga all fit, and Devlin coming back. Hearts don't slip up as far as I'm concerned.

"I think if they've got everyone fit and can keep them fit for five [post-split] games, Hearts will win the league."

Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson believes the current squad should relish taking on Celtic in Sunday's Old Firm derby - but admits he is nervous about the game (Daily Record), external.

Queen's Park have accepted an offer for Harris Afzal from Southampton despite interest from Celtic and Rangers (Daily Record)., external

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Sunday was about backing up a big result against Hearts with a win against a team you should be beating in Livingston, but unfortunately, Rangers contrived to make things as hard as possible for themselves once again.

Two things can be true at the same time: Rangers should not be going two down against the league's bottom side.

However, asking the referee and VAR to get big calls correct shouldn't be completely discarded either.

In my opinion, Mikey Moore was clearly denied a goal-scoring opportunity when the game was on the line, but nothing was given.

Back to the game, we found Livi goalkeeper Jerome Prior in fine form, and our defence leaking like a sieve. Lewis Smith's goal to make it 2-0 was so poor defensively.

When that went in I had flashbacks to the 3-2 defeat by Ross County under Philippe Clement.

Thankfully, this time we managed to take a point. But I do feel that Danny Rohl overthought things. He changed his shape again, and we were far too slow and ponderous for 80 minutes.

The main positive is that we are one more point clear Celtic. I haven't been caught up in the talk of a title challenge simply because there will be more points dropped by all teams involved.

However, I have the feeling that whoever loses Sunday's derby at Ibrox are teetering on the brink of being out of any apparent race.

It's a 10-game season now, starting on Sunday and we have bring a similar performance to the win against Hearts to make sure the season doesn't get away from us.

Rangers are keen to extend Mikey Moore's stay at Ibrox and the 18-year-old winger is enthusiastic too, but while Tottenham Hotspur are open to another loan, they would want him in their squad should they be relegated to the Championship. (TeamTalk), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd is confident the Ibrox side "will get over the line" in a tight Scottish Premiership title race.

Rangers trail leaders Hearts by four points, and are two ahead of rivals Celtic, who have played a game fewer than the top two.

After the second leg of their Europa League tie at Stuttgart on Thursday, Celtic face a portentous league and Scottish Cup double at Ibrox, either side of an away assignment at Aberdeen.

For Boyd, these two derby matches will give a strong indication of who will take the Premiership crown.

"I still think Rangers will get over the line," he said.

"Don't get me wrong, I think they've made hard work of it, but when I look at both our two big Glasgow teams, I think they've been caught up with each other and forgot that Hearts are there.

"They're in a good position. I fully expect them to go and get three points off Aberdeen at the weekend as well, which will strengthen their case. They're in a good position but I still think Rangers will pip them."

As for the two upcoming matches against Celtic, Boyd favours his old side in both as he contemplates two huge fixtures which will define the season for both sides.

"Whoever loses the league game [on Sunday] - if there is a loser - for me will be out of [the title race] because Hearts should beat Aberdeen and that would strengthen their case and open their gap even further.

"After the cup game there could be nothing left to play for. It would be unimaginable that either Rangers or Celtic wouldn't deliver a trophy this season but there is a high possibility that could be the case.

"For me though, I think Rangers will still win the league and will have a really, really good chance in the Scottish Cup if they get past Celtic. I think Rangers will win both games."

While head coach Danny Rohl would get most of the credit if he brought Rangers from the ashes of Russell Martin's short-lived tenure to an unlikely triumph, Boyd feels the influence of chairman Andrew Cavenagh should not go unrecognised.

"There's no doubt that Rangers were all over the place at the start of the season," Boyd said.

"The chairman deserves enormous credit for realising that was an issue.

"It's not easy to go in there to remove the manager that you've backed in the summer.

"Danny Rohl deserves enormous credit for what he's done but it will all be forgotten about if Rangers don't land silverware."

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Emmanuel Fernandez says Rangers will "fight and fight and fight" to bring the Scottish Premiership title back to Ibrox this season.

Fernandez scored as Rangers came from two goals down to draw at bottom side Livingston on Sunday.

Danny Rohl's side now trail leaders Hearts by four points and are two ahead of Celtic in third, who have a game in hand.

Rangers have not won the title since the 2020-21 season, but Fernandez believes the character they have shown makes them well suited to handle the run-in.

"There's 30 points to play for and I feel like we've shown character to come back in many games this season," he said.

"And we showed character to come back to this stage where we are in the season, and we've got to fight and fight and fight, and keep hunting.

"I could feel the fire in the players' bellies in my team and I know there's a lot to come from us and we have just got to stick together and keep going.

"We were 2-0 down, we show good fight to come back.

"I know we'll be disappointed about this, but there's 10 games to go, and we have just got to keep fighting."

We asked for your thoughts after Mikey Moore's 88th-minute header rescued a draw for Rangers against Scottish Premiership strugglers Livingston.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Alan: One of the strangest decisions of the season at the end. It's a foul all day long, only question was inside or outside the box? Small margins cost titles, and this year it's tighter than ever.

Derek: It was proved again today, Chermiti is not the answer! Why couldn't we play with the same intensity that we finished the game with? Far too slow and poor goals to give away from a defensive point of view. No wins in the last three away games, that form doesn't win you leagues. Sorry lads, just not good enough.

Elaine: Not our best but how many times are we going to be on the wrong end of a ridiculous VAR decision. Fair play to the Livi goalkeeper though but his MOTM says it all. Our strikers need to step up if we are going to win the league.

Stewart: There was large parts of that game where the Rangers players looked like "if we turn up we'll win" which I felt was quite obvious. Livingston didn't play that well, we made them look like a top six team and that's not what makes teams title contenders. Too much emphasis on "was it a penatly" when we were poor and couldn't finish a fish supper for so much of the game. Lucky that Celtic lost or the atmosphere would have been much more toxic at the end.

John: Rangers threw the kitchen sink at Livingston but it was it was just one of those days unfortunately. On another day it could have been 2-5. Ref's decision not to award a foul/penalty and red card for the late challenge on Mikey Moore was an epic howler. Onwards & upwards. The upcoming Old Firm double header will be pivotal in deciding the honours for season 25/26. I can't wait!

Matthew: A frantic performance categorised by desperate attack and lacklustre defense. Rohl has worked wonders with this squad, but our defensive shape is still at sea every time we face set pieces and counter attacks. Some of these guys earn more every week than I do in a year - surely you can stay focused for a full 90 minutes of a football match. We seem incredulously shot shy, passing backwards or sideways waiting for an open goal or a tap in to present itself. We need another dimension in attack.

Watch highlights from Sunday's Premiership match between Livingston and Rangers.

Match Report: Rangers scramble draw at 10-man Livingston

Available to UK users only.

Rangers centre-half Emmanuel Fernandez and winger Djeidi Gassama have called out vile racist abuse they received on social media after Sunday's 2-2 draw with Livingston. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Mikey Moore's 88th-minute header rescued a draw for Rangers against Scottish Premiership strugglers Livingston, who blew a two-goal lead after Cristian Montano's red card.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "Disappointed that we didn't take three points.

"We give them the set-plays too easily and then we tried everything. Big compliment to the team, to the supporters who pushed us."

On the challenge on Mikey Moore, late in the game, Rohl adds: "I can't understand when you see the replay and it's a clear foul, then the decision. In my view it was on the line and it's a penalty.

"It's a clear foul. Mikey said to me and you see on the replay. It's a pen but we have to move forward."

With Celtic up next, Rohl is relishing the run-in.

"We showed again our comeback character," he says. "Ten games to go and it is an exciting race.

"We are disappointed but we go again. We have to carry on. We cannot think too much about the past and I totally believe, the players believe, the club believe and the supporters believe we can do it.

"We showed against Hearts that we can beat top of the league. Next week we have the next challenge. We will hunt again and again."

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Rangers and Celtic will face competition from English and Italian clubs in the race to sign 21-year-old midfielder David Watson when his contract expires with Kilmarnock this summer. (Football Insider), external

Danilo, the 26-year-old Rangers striker on loan to Nijmegen, is hoping to persuade the Dutch club to sign him permanently this summer. (Glasgow Times), external

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has confirmed Rangers centre-half Emmanuel Fernandez is on his radar for his next squad. (The National), external

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers midfielder Tochi Chukwuani believes competition in the squad may be key in their title push as they look to pip Hearts and Celtic to the Scottish Premiership.

Chukwuani, 22, became Danny Rohl's first signing as Rangers boss last month, having won the Austrian Bundesliga with former club Sturm Graz last season.

Rangers beat league-leaders Hearts 4-2 last weekend to narrow the gap at the top to just two points before this weekend's fixtures, while they are a point ahead of rivals Celtic having played a game more.

"One thing I must say is having the depth of squad," Chukwuani said when asked to reflect on what qualities help win titles.

"You can see now we have really high competition in the squad and I think that competition is very healthy.

"It gets to push each player to deliver each training and to be on it every match. I think that's one very key thing.

"That's what we all dream of, winning titles. I think it would mean the world to me to achieve that here.

"I think the main thing is just not to get carried away, to just try to keep our heads down and then do the work because when we do the work I think the work will also show on the pitch."

Chukwuani hopes the victory over Hearts will provide "energy" as the title race hots up.

Rangers travel to the Premiership's bottom club Livingston on Sunday at the same time as Celtic host Hibernian. Hearts host Falkirk on Saturday.

"The mood is good," he said. "It was a great win last weekend and the atmosphere was really fantastic from the fans.

"We could really feel the energy and the high spirits from the fans and we are trying to use this energy to go against Livingston and make three points, hopefully.

"The setting will be different from Ibrox but the objective will be the same, which is to get three points.

"We just try to focus game by game, the last game was a great one and it was a great confidence booster and we try to use this confidence for the next games."

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Livingston may include new signings Barrie McKay and Joel Nouble. Babacar Fati (thigh) could return, but Samson Lawal, Josh Zimmerman, Scott Arfield (hamstring), Connor McLennan (ankle) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) are all likely to remain sidelined.

Rangers boss Danny Rohl has a couple of fresh injury concerns, although he refused to disclose names. Max Aarons has missed the last two matches and Connor Barron (knee) and Derek Cornelius (muscle) are still out.

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Rangers are poised to reopen contract talks with Nicolas Raskin as they look to reward the 24-year-old Belgium midfielder, whose current deal ends in summer 2028, with improved terms. (Daily Record), external

Ryan Naderi's agent has revealed that the striker was originally due to join Rangers from Hansa Rostock this summer only for the Scottish Premiership club to complete the £4.2m transfer minutes before the end of the January window because of the rising costs of potential alternative loan deals. (Glasgow Times), external

Dujon Sterling is a huge doubt for next month's league and cup double header with Celtic after the Rangers defender suffered yet another injury set-back. (Daily Record), external

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Rangers boss Danny Rohl has praised January signing Ryan Naderi, saying the forward reminds him of former Bayern Munich and Germany star Thomas Muller.

Naderi has played for the Ibrox side four times since making the move from Hansa Rostock, scoring twice and contributing two assists.

He played his part in the 4-2 win over Hearts that narrowed the gap at the top of the Premiership table, starting alongside Youssef Chermiti with Andreas Skov Olsen and Mikey Moore either side in an attacking line-up.

Rohl said he is bringing something different to the squad and can help those around him.

He said: "I think you see it in the training, I said to Ryan he's a little bit like Thomas Müller, sometimes you don't know how but he is doing the right things.

"I think this is great, to play with two strikers in front helps as well. It's probably not always [going to be] the shape but I think it was good, we had our wingers in a good position as well.

"Ryan is very present I think against the ball, very sharp with a good intensity, wins a lot of balls and gives us a good structure.

"In the box he is always in the right moments and it gives a little bit more time for the other striker, I think this is the advantage of having two strikers in front."

Rohl also had praise for Chermiti, who showed a knack for big game performances with a hat-tick against Hearts.

"Of course, as a striker you always want to score," the head coach said. "I think he always tried to score, he comes into fantastic situations.

"I think it was always important that he had these moments, and now it's about being clinical. I think against Hearts he had a fantastic day. It was really outstanding."