When Danny Rohl took cost of his first Premiership sport again in late October, Glasgow Rangers had been languishing in sixth within the desk, 13 factors off the shock runaway leaders.
Now, heading into Sunday’s mouthwatering assembly at Ibrox, that hole has been lowered to 5 factors, with the Gers sitting fairly in second and firmly on this intriguing title race.
There will likely be frustration that the margin just isn’t even much less, contemplating the Glasgow aspect dropped factors on the dying in midweek, though it is onerous to not be impressed by the work Rohl has accomplished after the previous few months or so.
And but, in some ways, all will likely be misplaced if the Gentle Blues don’t get the higher of Derek McInnes’ males at Ibrox, with now the time to avenge their earlier two defeats in opposition to Hearts this season.
A significant 90 minutes lies in retailer, with it but to be seen who could have the larger attacking high quality to come back out on high…
How Rangers and Hearts’ forwards examine this season
A big optimistic for these of a Rangers persuasion, heading into Sunday’s sport, is that the guests will nonetheless be with out influential skipper, Lawrence Shankland, with the Scotland striker having been in red-hot type this season, previous to his current damage absence.
Lengthy linked with a transfer to Ibrox, Shankland has led the cost underneath McInnes in 2025/26, scoring 11 occasions within the Premiership thus far, a file solely bettered by Benjamin Nygren and Tawanda Maswanhise.
Rangers, in contrast, have endured much more distress of their centre-forward ranks, with Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski scoring simply eight league objectives between them, whereas new man Ryan Naderi is but to get off the mark following his two substitute appearances within the league.
On the flanks too, solely Mikey Moore can match the 4 objectives that each Alex Kyziridis and Pierre Kabore have recorded at Tynecastle, with it reasonably damning that James Tavernier continues to be the membership’s main scorer with seven within the league and 13 in all competitions.
There was at the very least some impression from summer season signing Thelo Aasgaard, with 4 Premiership objectives up to now, though once more, the Norwegian’s file has been bettered considerably by Hearts’ personal quantity ten, Claudio Braga, the Portuguese scoring ten occasions amid what has been an actual breakout season in Edinburgh.
With Shankland absent, Braga would be the man Rangers should include on this top-of-the-table conflict, with the 26-year-old notably pegging again Celtic within the 2-2 draw between the 2 sides final month.
As is clear, Celtic’s ahead line hasn’t bought near the highs of Shankland and Braga up to now, though may that each one change after January?
Rangers should now unleash Braga improve vs Hearts
As Rangers toiled in midweek at Motherwell, the efficiency of the 2 males on the flanks was significantly irritating, with Djeidi Gassama registering simply 21 touches in 74 minutes, all whereas Andreas Skov Olsen watched on from the bench.
Cantwell 2.0: Rangers man may very well be completed after Skov Olsen & Naderi offers
Rangers would possibly properly have one other Todd Cantwell on their arms at Ibrox.
Hopefully, that lack of motion for the Dane was merely with one eye on this weekend, with Rohl needing to unleash his marquee January arrival from the beginning this time round.
Signed on mortgage from Wolfsburg, with the deal together with an choice to purchase within the area of £9m, Skov Olsen has already scored as soon as in Rangers colors, netting within the 5-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock earlier this month.
Already on half as many league objectives this season as Gassama has racked up, the 26-year-old may properly be a deciding issue on this title race, even after enduring a tough first half of the marketing campaign in Germany.
Certainly, the 40-cap Denmark worldwide scored only one Bundesliga aim previous to shifting to Glasgow, having truly scored simply three objectives in 23 video games in complete for his dad or mum membership, after signing from Membership Brugge a 12 months in the past.
It’s his type in Belgium, nevertheless, that gives actual motive for pleasure, with the £9m man racking up 79 objectives and assists in simply 124 video games for Brugge, having fun with a very fruitful 2023/24 marketing campaign.
That ultimate full season on the membership noticed Skov Olsen register 36 objectives and assists in all competitions, whereas he had beforehand dazzled on the books at Danish aspect Nordsjaelland, previous to a spell in Bologna.
|
Skov Olsen vs Gassama – Kilmarnock |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
Skov Olsen |
Gassama |
|
Minutes |
30 |
60 |
|
Touches |
35 |
33 |
|
Go fee |
88% |
65% |
|
Key passes |
2 |
0 |
|
Photographs |
2 |
1 |
|
Targets |
1 |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
0 |
|
Succ. dribbles |
1/2 |
0/1 |
|
Ball misplaced |
5 |
13 |
That early time in Scandinavia resulted within the left-footer scoring and helping 34 objectives in simply 51 video games. For comparability, Braga’s spell in that area with Norwegian aspect Aalesunds noticed the ahead bag simply 23 aim involvements in 41 outings.
Beforehand within the second tier with Moss previous to that, Braga has been one thing of a bolt from the blue this season, having been a relative unknown amount earlier than becoming a member of Hearts.
Skov Olsen, in the meantime, is identical age because the Portuguese, however his expertise has been evident for a very long time now, guaranteeing {that a} constant run of sport time may see him really sparkle in Scottish soccer.
Rohl has used his new man considerably sparingly thus far, however with Braga and Hearts up subsequent, the Dane needs to be unleashed.
Rangers have already signed their very own Maswanhise in Ibrox sensation
With the window now at a detailed, Rangers must discover some attacking inspiration throughout the Ibrox ranks.
