When it comes to beating the odds, Rangers have some history. As we all know, of course, Celtic were very much in control of Scottish football for the majority of 2012 to 2021. When Steven Gerrard came in, it was not an overnight fix for Rangers, but 55 was finally secured in 2021 after a dominant season, but it was against the odds.
Celtic had been in control up to that point. They have since seized control yet again, and only this current season have we seen a dilution of that control. Consequently, Rangers have to fight and battle against the odds again, which is what is having to happen this current campaign. Not only coming from 11th in the table under Russell Martin, while Danny Rohl took over with the team in 6th, nevertheless the team had regardless been second bottom prior under the vegan monster. Currently, Rangers of course are 2nd, but Celtic are very much in the picture.
Mind Games and Pressure
Their manager Martin O’Neill is very wisely playing down his team’s chances and talking a little bit of mild smack about his own side rather than putting pressure on other teams. He instead is putting pressure on his own players, which is a different approach, but nevertheless, he knows what he is doing. Derek McInnes does not. This is completely unprecedented for Derek McInnes and Hearts, certainly, of course, in recent history.
Hearts’ Unlikely Charge
Hearts have not been this close to winning a title for many, many generations. And of course, we all remember the Vladimir Romanov days of ‘Jambos since July’. This was when the then George Burley led Hearts took the top of the table for a fair old time. Then Romanov went mad. But that was many, many years ago. These days, Hearts are strong at the top. They have done remarkably, and Celtic know how to win titles.
The Numbers Behind the Race
As for those odds that we are talking about? Rangers have to defy the odds to beat Hearts and Celtic to this league title. While we are second there is only a three point gap between the top three. But Hearts have the stats very much in their favour this season. As we have remarked before, their record against the top six is currently at nine wins out of fifteen. That’s the strongest of the top three, and that, of course, is the teams that they are going to face. Not unlike ourselves, for the rest of the campaign.
Another thing that they have in their cap, we mentioned yesterday, is the return of Cammy Devlin. Whenever he has been in their side, they have more often than not won the match. He’s lost just two matches. His presence is a huge fillip for them, and has come at a critical time, going into the final straight of the season. So they are, in many senses, the favourites.
Odds
They are, in actual fact, odds wise, joint favourite. In fact, all three are really joint favourite. It is too close to call, albeit we did explain the odds do have Rangers at evens, while Hearts and Celtic are 2 to 1 against, give or take. However, the odds in Celtic’s favour, of course, is the simple fact that they are champions. They have also got still a superior record against the top six, compared with what Rangers do.
Danny Rohl’s record against the top six is 50%. A 50% win rate is not that great, especially when you are up against two teams who both have a superior record against the top six. As we said, Hearts have nine wins of fifteen, and Celtic have six wins of ten. Both of those records are better than Rangers.
This is the defiance that we must put up, just in the way that we won 55 all those years ago now, against the odds. This is something that once again, Rangers will have to achieve to secure 56 this term. Is it a tall order? It is not any more a tall order than a sure thing. This league campaign is far too close to call, and even though the stats and metrics do count a bit against Rangers, at this point, this whole situation is so unprecedented that it is hard to make any kind of judgement at all. Beating the odds? This really is quite the end to the season.