Danny Rohl insisted in the aftermath of the win over Hearts that any questions over the mentality of his Rangers side should be parked until the end of the campaign. Just a couple of weeks later, familiar concerns and criticisms are being aired after a draw that felt like a defeat against Celtic.
It was a point put to John Souttar following Sunday’s Old Firm stalemate at Ibrox. The defender understood why. Until this side win titles and trophies, it will be a repeating theme on occasions such as this.
Read more:
- Reason Rangers threw away two points in Old Firm and what it means for Rohl
- Danny Rohl's full explanation for why Rangers dropped off so dramatically vs Celtic
Rohl’s side were two goals ahead and cruising. Three points were there to be clinched and the deficit to Hearts was set to be reduced once again. After a first half showing that was the finest of Rohl’s reign, Rangers produced a second that was simply unforgivable in the circumstances.
"Yeah, of course that's going to be the question,” Souttar said when asked if Rangers have a mentality problem within the squad. “And what I can say is, we need to be judged at the end of the season because just now there's nine games left and if I was a fan looking just now, I'd be asking the same questions, it's natural. But for me, we've got to be really clean the next nine games.
"We've got to stand up and we've got to win and we can't afford slip ups and obviously Hearts are six points so it's up to them and we've got to hope they drop points and we've got to win every game. But I'd say ask us at the end of the season and judge us then."
Two moments of individual brilliance from Youssef Chermiti had the points seemingly wrapped up when the first half was brought to a close. An hour later, goals from Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate had earned Martin O’Neill’s side the point that they merited.
The drop-off from one 45 minutes to the next was unfathomable and unacceptable. It cost Rangers dear on Sunday. In all likelihood, it will cost them in the Premiership title race.
"Yes, it's difficult to find the words as to how difficult it is to take,” Souttar said. "I think first half, I don't think I have been involved in such a one-sided Old Firm game at Ibrox.
"I thought we were dominant, off the ball on the ball. I thought everyone was right on it we played in the front foot.
"We were aggressive. We played in their half. Then we started second like that after that first five minutes, and then after that, we did the complete opposite.
"We didn't get tight enough, we e didn't put them under the same pressure we were putting them under. We allowed them to play their game, get on the ball and playing between the lines and then when you do that, there's going to be moments and chances in the game and two of them fell to them."
Rohl refused to pinpoint the character of his players as the reason for their downfall. He will be more concerned with the individual errors that allowed Tierney to head home from six yards and Hatate score at the third attempt after Jack Butland had saved his spot-kick and the initial follow-up effort.
The contrast between the first half and the second half was stark. The search for answers must be completed quickly as the Old Firm get set to do it all over again in the Scottish Cup this weekend.
"I personally think that's when we're at our best when we're physical,” Souttar said. "The crowd was up, we were playing in their half, fast aggressive football and we were the same at Hearts at home.
"But we've got to do it for the full game. There's no point doing it for 45/50 minutes. We've got to keep that for the full game and yes, there'll be periods where we can't do that the full game.
🔊 SOUND ON!
Rangers fans react to Chermiti's second goal 🎉 pic.twitter.com/2sRdV8e6Re
— The Rangers Review (@RangersReview55) March 1, 2026
"Celtic are a good side, there'll be moments when they have possession when they when they play their game and it's important then that we're a bit more experience and we get into a shape and we're difficult to play through.
"[The manager will] go away and watch it and see what the what the big reasons are, what the takeaways are because after the game is so emotional when you throw away three points like that.
"It's difficult to properly articulate what happened and look back and see why we gave up so much territory second half and why they had so much possession. Why have we allowed them to get into the game.
"I'm sure there'll be plenty of things we can look at, but just now, as you can imagine, it's high emotions in there and boys are really frustrated."
That cup clash speaks for itself in terms of its importance. If Rangers were to lose on Sunday, they could be staring at an empty Trophy Room come the end of the campaign.
Hearts are now firm favourites to go on and lift the Premiership. Rohl remains convinced it will go down to the wire. If Rangers are to be involved by then, they will need to be point perfect over the coming weeks.
"Yeah, of course six points and there's no two ways about that,” Souttar said. “They are the main beneficiaries then and if I was them, I'd be feeling the exact same way. But it's a long way to go. There's nine games and everyone's got to play each other.
"So as much as it feels there's six points now, let's see after nine games. But it's obviously we've got to be clean now, we can't afford anymore slip-ups. We've got to be on it."
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