Former Hearts and Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday believes Rangers may need to take risks when they face Hearts at Tynecastle on Monday.
The Motherwell midfielder, who has previously played for both Rangers and Hearts, pointed out that Emmanuel Longelo‘s late goal against Danny Rohl’s side last weekend has shifted the dynamics leading up to the match.
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The teams were tied at Ibrox with just 20 minutes remaining, but Longelo’s goal in the 90th minute secured three points for Jens Berthel Askou’s team and left Rangers four points adrift of the league leaders.
With this context, Halliday stated that Rangers’ title hopes would be effectively over if they fail to secure a win on Monday.
“I think it’s done for Rangers, absolutely,” he shared on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.
“Getting just a point at home against Motherwell isn’t ideal for Rangers—they needed a win. Longelo’s last-minute goal has changed the landscape completely.
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“If that game ended in a draw, Rangers would only be three points behind Hearts, with a better goal difference going into the Tynecastle match. So in that scenario, even a draw could have kept them in the race, especially with three matches remaining. A single loss by either Hearts or Rangers could change everything.
“This means Rangers must win on Monday, and it will be interesting to see their approach. If it’s tied at 1-1 or 0-0 with ten minutes left, they will need to take risks to try for the win.
“This situation could play into Hearts’ hands, allowing them to exploit counterattacks with quick players like Pierre Landry Kabore potentially coming off the bench late in the game.
“I expect a captivating match, but there’s no question that Rangers need a victory to keep their title hopes alive.”