Rangers defeat makes Hearts clash absolutely huge
Rangers saw its 16-game unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership come to an end at the most crucial time as it suffered costly 3-2 defeat to Motherwell, putting a massive dent in its title ambitions.
With just four games remaining of the season, Rangers is now four points off the pace after the damaging defeat at Ibrox.
Lukas Fadinger and Emmanuel Longelo struck in the space of nine minutes to send the visitors into a 2-0 lead in Glasgow, but Youssef Chermiti scored one and set up Nicolas Raskin as Rangers hauled itself level after the half-time break.
But in the 90th minute, Longelo saw a curled effort flick in off the head of a defender, condemning Danny Rohl's hosts to a first league loss since December.
With both Celtic and Hearts winning their matches, the defeat was as bad as it could be, and Rangers now has a mountain to climb if it is to win a first title since 2020-2021.
However, it has a huge chance next weekend when it meets current league leader Hearts, and Rohl is more than aware of the stature that game now holds, not that it already didn't.
"We will be ready and we will show again a reaction and then we go again and then let's see which direction it goes," the German said after the defeat to Motherwell.
"My job is to lift the group. I will lift them, I will stand in front and lead them and then we go again. We showed in the last couple of weeks and months how strong we are growing as a group.
"There will be no negativity from my side after one game. We have to go forward. I'm strong enough and it's not over."
