Danny Rohl insists there is still everything to play for in the Scottish Premiership title race despite watching his Rangers side surrender two valuable points in dramatic fashion at Fir Park.
The Ibrox manager acknowledged the frustration of conceding so late against Motherwell but made it clear that the setback does not signal the end of their championship ambitions.
Rangers appeared on course for a hard-earned away victory after Nicolas Raskin handed them an early advantage. The task seemed to get easier when Motherwell midfielder Lukas Fadinger was sent off in the 78th minute for a reckless challenge on Mikey Moore. However, even with a numerical disadvantage, the hosts refused to fold and found an equaliser in the 89th minute when Stephen Welsh, on loan from Celtic, finished from close range after connecting with an Eythor Bjørgolfsson header.
The draw means Rangers remain second in the table but now trail leaders Hearts by five points, while sitting just one point ahead of reigning champions Celtic, who also have a game in hand. With 12 league fixtures still to be played, Rohl believes the race is far from decided.
Reacting to the result, the German coach did not hide his disappointment but urged perspective.
“It’s not nice,” he admitted. “When you are chasing from behind, you cannot afford to relax. There is no space for rest — you have to keep pushing, keep winning, and stay aggressive in your approach. Of course it hurts to concede so late, especially when you feel you were close to securing the points. But this is not the end of the title race.”
Rohl emphasised that his team must quickly turn their focus to Sunday’s crucial clash with Hearts at Ibrox — a fixture that could have significant implications in the standings. Still, he rejected the idea that this particular game carries more weight than others.
“Since I arrived, every single match has been a must-win,” he explained. “There hasn’t been a game where we could say it’s not essential. When you are trying to close a gap at the top, each opportunity matters. That’s the reality. Our supporters demand victories, and we demand that from ourselves as well.”
He was also keen to credit Motherwell’s defensive organisation and resilience, noting their impressive record at home as evidence of their strength.
“There’s a reason they have been so solid here,” Rohl said. “You could see how well organised they were. We tried everything, and until the final minute we were in a strong position. But football can change in an instant. Sometimes you score late, sometimes you concede late. That’s part of the game.”
Rather than dwell on the disappointment, Rohl stressed the importance of maintaining belief and composure in what he expects to be a fluctuating three-way battle for the title.
“I don’t think this race will be straightforward for anyone,” he added. “There will be ups and downs for all three teams. Today we can be disappointed — that’s normal. But from tomorrow we move forward again. We have to respond in the right way.”
The Rangers boss also stood by his decision to make seven changes to the starting line-up from the side that dismantled Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup the previous weekend. Several January signings began on the bench, and Ryan Naderi was held back due to a minor issue following training.
“In football, you choose your team before the match, not after,” Rohl stated. “There were reasons behind every decision. Ryan had a small problem after training, so it would have been too much risk to start him. And with some of the new players, you have to integrate them carefully and build their rhythm. We also had to think about both matches this week, not just one.”
Despite the late setback in North Lanarkshire, Rohl’s overall message was one of resilience and belief. With a dozen games still remaining and key encounters on the horizon, he remains convinced that the Scottish Premiership title race has plenty of twists yet to come.
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