Rohl's Rangers in race - but 'brave & bold' backing needed

Rangers are in the race, but that's maybe because it's no normal race.

In the aftermath of their defeat by Hearts before Christmas, festive cheer was in scant supply at Ibrox.

Rangers were fourth in the table, 12 points off leaders Hearts who seemed to have rediscovered their mojo, with Celtic and Motherwell wedged in between.

"We don't have room for error," said midfielder Nico Raskin.

That much is true given Rohl's side are coming at a title charge from way down the field, but if this campaign has taught us anything, is that every team has the potential of slipping up.

A narrow win over Motherwell on Saturday has hoisted Rangers up to third, with that gap to the summit now down to nine with a game in hand.

It may have seemed unfathomable when Russell Martin was being bundled into the back of a car as fans protested at their draw at Falkirk, but Rangers are hanging in.

On that day in early October, Rangers were 11 points off the title pace after the same amount of games. Most alarmingly, they were eighth and closer to the bottom of the table than the top.

Since then, Rangers have been functional, if not sensational. But their long-suffering support will take that right now.

Since Rohl's arrival, last week's loss to Hearts was his only one in the league, and only the second domestically after a valiant extra-time defeat in the League Cup semi-final by Celtic.

There's been a couple of draws in there, but since the former Sheffield Wednesday manager came in, his team are top of the form table, garnering an average 2.3 points per game.

They've also kept a clean sheet 60% of the time, a tally only bettered by Motherwell.

Europe has been a different story, but that's not where Rohl will be judged right now.

"It's about the next game and the next three points. It's a long, long way, a long journey and a lot of games to go. It's about the next challenge we have," said Rohl after the win over Motherwell.

"We are still in the race but a lot of games to go.

"I think after the Hearts defeat the question was different, today we have this question. I understand but it's about the next game and the next three points."

Has it been perfect under Rohl? Absolutely not.

Against Motherwell there were shines of promise, but also fragments of fragility.

The Ibrox side had an expected goals (xG) of 3.9, had 28 shots, 13 on target and inflicted a first defeat in 11 over Jens Berthel Askou's impressive side.

However, Jack Butland had to be in inspired form throughout, while a nervousness crept into their play the longer the game drifted on as Motherwell cranked up the pressure.

Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh was in attendance at Ibrox on Saturday where he was seen greeting fans pre-match.

However, Rohl will be hoping he'll also be meeting a glut of new players coming in the door.

"I had a good meeting with Andrew this morning," said Rohl.

"We're very clear. I think there's one guideline for me off the pitch, brave and bold decisions. I think this is key to how we have to act.

"If you are convinced in the board and in the club then we should go all in and try it and if not then we should say no. I think this is very clear for me.

"It should be not something between maybe or maybe not. It's a no or a yes, not between, this is what I want to see from myself but also from us as a club, that we are brave enough to make strong decisions."