So here we are. The Split is now officially here, as we gear up for Rangers’ trip to Paisley to begin our defining five matches of the season.

This is where, categorically, the league is won and lost, in easily the tightest title race possibly since Helicopter Sunday.

And Ibrox Noise now sums up the current state of play.

Rangers have to win all five Split matches and hope Celtic drop points aside the Old Firm.

And, sadly, as we’ve said many times before, no Rangers side has ever won all five Split matches – we’ve won four and drawn one a few times, but since the Split began in 00/01, we’ve never won all five.

We would be absolutely staggered to do it this season.

As things sit, we’re 3 points behind and considerably behind on goal difference now – 5 behind, having conceded 3 less, but scored 8 less too, so that’s a point in itself for Celtic for now, which is why it’s not just as simple as Rangers win all five Split matches and we’re the champions.

We need to actually hope someone does us a favour, OR we turn goal difference around. Neither are impossible, but it does rely on other teams now.

So it is as many Rangers players have said, a bit of a reset again – a marathon of five games to the title.

It isn’t, sadly, all square, it’s in Celtic’s hands now, all they have to do is win their remaining five and they are champions. Rangers don’t have that luxury thanks to the goal difference, as things stand.

But the display against Hearts did renew hope a bit that manager Philippe Clement has finally learned from some of his errors and could continue to do so when we travel to Paisley.

Both Old Firm teams will drop points, simple as that. Neither are even close to good enough to win all five against the top 6.

It’s a question of who will blink first. The pressure is very much on Rangers on Saturday at 12:30 before Celtic then have to respond on Sunday.

Let’s give them no breathing room at all.