Rangers boss Danny Rohl claims the pressure is on Hearts going into Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at Ibrox.
Rohl’s side conceded a late goal in the draw with Motherwell on Wednesday which left them five points behind the Premiership leaders and one ahead of Celtic, who have a game in hand over both title rivals.
But Rohl insists it’s Derek McInnes’ men who will be feeling the heat tomorrow after the German took over a seemingly hopeless cause from Russell Martin last October and guided Rangers to within touching distance of the Tynecastle side.
Rohl, who was facing a 13-point gap to Hearts when first handed the reins, was asked if Sunday was now a must-win game for his team.
‘Yeah, generally it’s about consistency, to take three points again and again and again, and, in the last couple of weeks we did really well at this,’ he said. ‘That’s the reason why we closed the gap.
‘It’s a big game to take the three points, but I think it’s also the same for Hearts.
Rangers manager Danny Rohl knows his side can’t afford to lose this weekend’s clash
Motherwell’s Stephen Welsh — on loan from Celtic — netted late against Rangers midweek
Thelo Aasgaard cut a dejected figure at Fir Park after seeing two vital points slip away
‘If you are 13 points ahead of a club and you drop maybe to two points, maybe there’s also pressure on them.
‘This is for both teams, both teams know what it’s about in this game.
‘I think both teams have pressure on this game. If we can close to two points, it would be massive.
‘Every game now is crucial. All the teams now know every result influences a lot, but every result is also not a final decision.
‘This is also very important to understand. We have had a good run at home, a lot of good results, a lot of clean sheets.
‘But we face a strong side, we have a different challenge to Wednesday. We also have to understand this game, and I want to pick the best team for this game.’
Despite extending Rangers’ unbeaten domestic run to 12 games this week, Rohl came in for criticism from fans perhaps for the first time, with frustrated and anxious supporters questioning team selection, substitutions and his approach to the game, especially after Motherwell were reduced to 10 men in the second half.
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss, who was named Premiership manager of the month for January, said: ‘Twenty-four hours before the game you get an award for the best manager of the month, 24 hours later you’re not good enough.
‘This is football. I’ve said it many times before, it’s about the next game.
Lawrence Shankland made the difference when Hearts won in Glasgow back in September
‘In football sometimes it’s emotional. In this match day, we concede late, the two other clubs (Celtic and Hearts in their respective midweek games) scored late — it could be a completely different story today and you ask me different questions.
‘But this is football. I try to be balanced after wins but also after draws. We’re not talking about defeats at the moment.
‘We were not happy, especially when you concede so late.
‘As a manager you always take the responsibility. I make my decision before the game, there was an idea behind it.
‘And then after, the decision-making is influenced by the result.
‘If you draw, then you have to ask maybe such critical questions, but this is normal.’