Rangers manager Danny Rohl has firmly declared that he will not allow today's frustrating goalless draw with Hibernian to derail his team's Scottish Premiership title aspirations. The Ibrox side were second best for significant periods during the match at Easter Road and were somewhat fortunate to escape Edinburgh with a share of the points.
Table Position Shifts After Stalemate
The result sees Rangers drop to third place in the Premiership table on goal difference, slipping behind arch-rivals Celtic who secured a 2-0 victory over Falkirk later in the day. Hearts now sit six points clear at the summit following their triumph over Dundee United on Friday evening, tightening the pressure at the top of the division.
Rohl Pleads for Perspective After Underwhelming Display
Reflecting on his team's performance, Rohl appealed for a broader perspective regarding Rangers' current situation. The German tactician emphasised the progress made during his tenure, stating: 'If you said to me 10 weeks ago that we would be in this position on the 1st of February, I would have taken it.'
Rohl continued with his assessment of the title race, expressing unwavering confidence in his squad's capabilities: 'I'm totally convinced that this race goes until the end - and we have to be there. In general, I think I have a clear picture in my mind. I saw a group that was growing and growing together.'
The Rangers boss made his philosophical approach clear, adding: 'And what I will not do today after this draw is to make everything very dark. I think this is also part of this race. It's an exciting one. We are still in the race.'
Transfer Window Activity and New Signings
Rohl has already welcomed three new players to Ibrox during the January transfer window and didn't rule out further business before the deadline passes on Thursday night. 'We will see what happens,' he remarked. 'If something happens, I'm happy. If not, I carry on with my group. They have done a good job so far.'
Among the new arrivals is Danish winger Andreas Skov Olsen, who failed to provide the creative spark required to break down Hibs' resilient defence and was substituted during the second half. Despite his underwhelming start to life in Glasgow, having previously commanded significant transfer fees to Club Brugge and Wolfsburg, Rohl remains optimistic about the player's potential impact.
'It's step by step - I think this is part in general in January,' Rohl explained regarding integration of new signings. 'He was available today, but not in the Europa League. It wasn't helpful for him. But I see he's getting better and better. He will be physically ready more and more, and I'm very positive.'
Hibs Boss Gray Believes Victory Was Deserved
Across the technical area, Hibernian manager David Gray expressed his belief that his team merited all three points from the encounter. The former Hibs captain praised his players for responding positively following consecutive defeats to Dunfermline and Falkirk in recent weeks.
'The players certainly reacted from the disappointment in the last couple of games,' Gray stated. 'We've got a point out of that today, and I'm disappointed we've not got three. Rather than back-to-back defeats, you can flip that on its head and say it's one defeat in seven in the league.'
New Signings Make Immediate Impact for Hibs
Gray handed debuts to three new signings - Kai Andrews, Dane Scarlett and Owen Elding - with Andrews particularly impressing in midfield after replacing the injured Miguel Chaiwa early in the contest. The Hibs manager was delighted with their immediate contributions.
'I thought [Andrews was] excellent in terms of coming in,' Gray commented. 'It's not easy in the first half, especially in a game of that intensity. It took him maybe five to 10 minutes, 15 minutes to get up to speed. But he certainly grew into the game. I'm very impressed with him.'
Gray concluded with satisfaction regarding his January recruitment: 'The most pleasing thing for me is we've brought a few players in over the last few days. To have them right in your squad and coming on and impacting the game is excellent.'
As both teams prepare for their next fixtures, with Rangers facing Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the Premiership title race continues to intrigue with multiple contenders still firmly in contention during this crucial phase of the season.
