The German coach endured a difficult debut just days earlier, suffering a heavy Europa League defeat in his first game in charge. However, his opening Scottish Premiership outing told a very different story. Derek Cornelius opened the scoring early on, before George Stanger equalised for the visitors shortly before the break.
In the second half, Rangers’ superior quality shone through, with goals from Danilo and Youssef Chermiti sealing the three points and giving Rohl a strong start domestically.
Despite the win, the match highlighted an emerging concern for Rohl ahead of the January transfer window — the goalkeeping position.
Jack Butland under pressure
While Jack Butland has produced some strong performances this season, his inconsistency continues to cause worry. The 32-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance but remains prone to costly mistakes, and Sunday’s match once again exposed that flaw.
Kilmarnock’s only goal came from a Butland error, as the keeper misjudged a corner from Greg Kiltie, completely missing the ball and allowing an easy tap-in at the back post. It was a poor moment that could have swung the momentum if Rangers hadn’t responded so strongly after the interval.
Although Butland’s early-season displays earned praise, the role of a top-level goalkeeper demands unwavering reliability — something the Englishman has yet to fully deliver.
Possible January move
Rangers were reportedly interested in Pierce Charles during the summer transfer window, and recent developments could reignite that pursuit. Sheffield Wednesday — Charles’ current club — have entered administration, meaning they may be forced to sell valuable players.
Adding to the intrigue, Rohl was the very coach who handed the 20-year-old his league debut back in March, making a potential reunion entirely plausible.
If Rangers decide to move for a new number one this winter, Charles could represent an exciting long-term solution — a talented young keeper with bags of potential and a prior connection to Rohl.
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