Rangers suffered a 2-1 defeat to Hearts, jeopardizing their Scottish Premiership title hopes. Despite taking an early lead through Dujon Sterling, they could not maintain control of the match.
Key points
Rangers lost 2-1 to Hearts at Tynecastle.
Dujon Sterling scored the opening goal for Rangers.
The defeat raises questions about Rangers' determination.
Rangers' title hopes are now all but over.
RangersHeartsDujon SterlingScottish Premiership
Rangers' heart and willingness to suffer has been called into question as Danny Röhl's side all but fell out of the Scottish Premiership title race in a 2-1 defeat to league leaders Hearts.
Knowing a win would move them just one point behind the Jambos and Celtic, Röhl's men took the lead in the first half through Dujon Sterling and looked in complete control at Tynecastle.
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Dujon Sterling goal
Rangers struck first at Tynecastle as Dujon Sterling's deflected goal put them into an early lead against Hearts
However, a second-half comeback spearheaded by Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland left Rangers seven points off the top, all but ending their hopes of claiming the title.
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Hearts vs Rnager
Tynecastle erupts as Lawrence Shankland slots home to complete the second-half comeback
Defeat to Motherwell in the previous fixture already gave Rangers a mountain to climb, but with three games to go, the Ibrox outfit require a miracle to overturn the deficit.
Club legend Kris Boyd was critical of the players' desire to suffer in order to claim the title ahead of this Sunday's Old Firm clash live on Sky Sports.
âHearts are at the top of the table and have been for a number of months. You have to expect that youâll have to suffer," Boyd said.
"Youâre going to have to defend properly. Thatâs the mentality. Itâs easy to say when youâre on the ball youâre looking good. But you have to suffer, you have to dig in.
"That couldâve been Rangers today. But they didnât. They allowed Hearts to get back in the game.
"You have to suffer to win. For me, Rangers, the only thing they suffer is defeat. The group was as low as they have been since Röhl came in.
"But you donât win trophies for getting back into the league. You have to strike. Once again, Rangers have failed. Rangers two weeks ago were the bookies favourites. Two games later, boom. Out of it.â
Sutton: Tavernier has 'the heart of a pea'
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Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton was not pleased with the defending of Rangers captain James Tavernier during their loss to Hearts
It was meant to be a night to remember for soon to be departing Rangers captain James Tavernier, who made his 564th appearance for the club - moving him to fifth in the list of all-time appearance makers.
However, the 34-year-old's defending was called into question on both Hearts goals, leaving Chris Sutton to criticise the heart of the full-back in vital moments.
"Look at the Rangers captain [Tavernier]. That sums him up, his whole time at Rangers," Sutton stated post-match.
"He has the heart the size of a pea. He's bad on both goals, he should react.
"He should smell the danger the and try and block it. He is so lax, he has killed his team there."
Röhl demands courage from Rangers in final three games
Rangers boss Röhl was left wondering what could've game after watching his side look a shell of themselves in the second 45 minutes.
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss admitted the defending on both goals wasn't good enough and demanded more courage from his players during the remainder of the run-in.
"The goals we conceded were too easy. We were not in the right positions," he told Sky Sports.
Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti was seen speaking with Rangers fans after the defeat to Hearts
Image:
Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti was seen speaking with Rangers fans after the defeat to Hearts
"We cannot just play 45 minutes at the highest level. Football is about 90 minutes and you have to do a lot of things right to get something here.
"In the next three games, I demand they do everything. We wear the shirt of this club and it means we have to show character, personality and courage.
"If you're not ready to do everything for a clean sheet, this is the result. Today, it was our fault we lost. It was not so much about the opponent."
Rangers' final three fixtures:
Sunday May 10: Celtic (A) - kick-off 12pm, live on Sky Sports
