There’s little doubt Hearts v Rangers is do or die for 3 points in Gorgie for the Govan giants.
Having stuttered since October in third place, Danny Rohl’s men, despite an effective £21M investment in January, have been unable to secure top spot for longer than 18 hours.
And it’s safe to say that Rangers fans aren’t massively optimistic about the trip to in-form Hearts who have all their top players back and fit again.
3 points in Gorgie
Failure to get a massive 3 points in Gorgie and it’s game over for any real chance of 56 this season. Truth be told that chance is already hanging by a thread as it is, but going 7 behind Hearts with a loss ends any chance of the big title. Remaining 4 behind them for a draw keeps Danny Rohl’s side in it by the width of a hair.
It’s massive, and it’s the first time in living memory a trip to Hearts more or less had the league riding on it.
Rangers’ record this season with lower stakes on the table v Hearts has been awful. Two losses, one under Martin, one under Rohl, has shown how tough this side is, and only Youssef Messi in February secured an unlikely 3 points at Ibrox v McInnes’ side.
Hearts have shown grit, determination, and despite some less impressive form the past few months, have remained at the top of the table and indeed have kept a 3 point barrier to second.
McInnes’ men have shown the stomach for this fight, and in truth, Rohl’s men haven’t.
And that is on the line as we travel to Edinburgh to face destiny.
Over and out.
Is it truly done if we lose? 100% it is. 7 points with 3 matches left would be impossible to supplant especially given we’d still have Celtic away to contend with. And we wouldn’t expect Hearts to slip up much. Celtic probably won’t either.
Is it alive if we win? Yes, closing the gap to one point would be an incredible achievement for Rohl, and Big Marv’s epigram would be as alive and well as ever if we do it.
But with Hearts’ hunger, grit, quality and mental strength this season, not to mention the most hostile crowd we’ll have ever seen at Tynecastle, it really really is a big ask.
It’s a subpar Rangers. Subpar squad and manager, and we’re asking them to overhaul the form team of the season on their patch.
It’s a long, long shot, but you never do know. Do you?