Danny Röhl admitted he could not hide his satisfaction after Rangers FC took advantage of dropped points at the top of the table to reignite the Scottish Premiership title race.
Rangers secured a crucial 1–0 victory over St Mirren FC, with left-back Tuur Rommens scoring his first goal for the club. The result proved even more significant after league leaders Heart of Midlothian FC suffered a surprise 1–0 defeat to Kilmarnock FC earlier in the evening.
With just eight matches remaining, Rangers have now moved to within three points of Hearts and sit one point behind rivals Celtic FC, dramatically tightening the race for the championship.
Rommens Delivers Vital Moment
After a challenging run of results, Rangers finally returned to winning ways thanks to Rommens’ decisive strike in the 31st minute. The defender’s goal not only sealed the three points but also ended a four-match winless run for Röhl’s side across all competitions.
The victory was particularly important for Rangers after recent disappointment, including their exit from the Scottish Cup at the hands of Celtic.
Röhl Delighted with Title Twist
Following the match, Röhl admitted that Hearts’ earlier defeat had given him extra motivation heading into the game.
The Rangers boss said he would be lying if he claimed he was not smiling after seeing the result that reopened the title race. However, he was quick to emphasise that his team must remain focused for the final stretch of the season.
According to Röhl, the league will ultimately be decided by whichever team can maintain consistency during the remaining fixtures. He also described the atmosphere in the dressing room before the match as full of belief and energy, something he believes could help drive the team forward.
Röhl previously described the club’s remaining fixtures as “nine cup finals”, and he sees the victory over St Mirren as the first crucial step in that run.
St Mirren Show Fight Despite Turmoil
Despite the defeat, St Mirren produced a spirited performance during a difficult week for the club. The team recently lost manager Stephen Robinson, who departed to join Aberdeen FC.
An interim coaching staff took charge of the match, with under-19 coach Craig McLeish working alongside goalkeeping coach Jamie Langfield.
McLeish praised his players’ attitude and effort during a challenging period, noting that the squad showed great energy and commitment on the pitch despite the uncertainty surrounding the club.
Injury Blow for St Mirren
The interim coach also confirmed several injury setbacks that could impact the remainder of St Mirren’s season.
Defender Marcus Fraser has suffered a broken collarbone that required surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the campaign. Meanwhile, midfielder Keanu Baccus is set to undergo surgery on an Achilles injury, a setback that could also end his hopes of representing Australia national football team at the upcoming World Cup.
There is also concern over defender Declan John, who picked up a groin problem in training and will undergo further medical assessment.
Title Race Heating Up
With the league table tightening and only a handful of matches remaining, the Scottish Premiership title race has suddenly become far more competitive.
For Rangers, the victory at St Mirren could prove to be a turning point as Röhl’s side look to maintain momentum and chase down both Hearts and Celtic in what promises to be a thrilling finish to the season.