How Rangers went top and one worry that remains for Danny Rohl

That part is out of Rohl's control right now. His side did their job by overcoming Dundee United at Ibrox thanks to goals from Ryan Naderi, Dujon Sterling, Thelo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski.

Amar Fatah brought United back into it before the break. At 3-1, Zac Sapsford scored to bring the visitors to within a goal once again. Just seconds before Miovski's winner, Iurie Iovu hit the post with a header.

It was a sliding doors moment in this match, and potentially one in this three-way fight for the title. On a nervy afternoon, the margins were fine. They went in Rohl's favour.

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Top spot for Rohl’s side

Win seven games and you win the title. That was the road to glory that was laid out for Rangers before a ball was kicked at Ibrox. Six matches and six victories now stand between them and the silverware.

Few would have believed that Rohl’s side would have had the chance to go top of the table when he was appointed in October. On that day, he inherited a group that were 13 points off the pace and had won a single league fixture.

The job he has done since then speaks for itself. Yet those plaudits will be lost if he now doesn’t go on and lift the Premiership in the coming weeks. A trip to Falkirk awaits next Sunday before the defining, decisive post-split schedule.

All the talk pre-match was about Rangers assuming the lead in the title race. The fact that it is two years since their name was beside number one in the standings says so much in so many ways. On that occasion, a win over St Johnstone was not the precursor to a charge over the line as Philippe Clement’s side faltered badly in the closing stages of the campaign.

Time will tell what Rohl and his players do from here on in. The hunters have become the hunted, but for how long? For once, Rangers can sit back having done their bit and watch what unfolds elsewhere. Their fate is in their hands. Can the title be grasped?

Rangers should have scored more

It was a day of firsts. Naderi opened his account in the Premiership and Sterling registered for the first time at Ibrox. It was also an afternoon of regrets as the goal difference was not boosted in the manner that it should have been.

The deadline was broken after half an hour. Aasgaard’s speculative effort from distance wasn’t dealt with by Ashley Maynard-Brewer. The keeper either had to tip it over the bar or catch it.

When he palmed it straight into the path of Naderi, the outcome was obvious as the German got the goal that his efforts have deserved over recent weeks. An earlier header had dropped wide of the far post.

Rangers had not exactly been free-flowing up to that point. Too much of the match was played in front of United and the visitors were comfortable. Rohl’s side needed a second goal and it was Sterling who scored it, diverting an Andreas Skov Olsen header over the line from close range.

The third came from a similar distance. Djeidi Gassama was the provider with a low cross that was fired across the six-yard area and Aasgaard converted at the back post. Despite the failings in his all-round game, he had now been involved in all three goals.

Before that, Chermiti and Moore had both failed to convert from good positions and fired efforts straight at the keeper. Another chance for the Portuguese after a break was glaring but David Richards saved a woeful effort.

Miovski settled the nerves and the match. Rangers outnumbered United in a breakaway and the striker scored from the edge of the area. At last, that was that.

Arabs give it a good go

United arrived at Ibrox aiming to take something from Rangers for the third time this term. On both occasions so far, Rangers have required a late intervention to salvage a point. The first was Stevie Smith’s only match in interim charge, James Tavernier scored with three minutes to spare. At Tannadice, it was a last-gasp Nedim Bajrami penalty that rescued the visitors.

Unsurprisingly, Goodwin started the same side that saw off Celtic before the international break. As much as there was a focus on Rangers and their title bid, the afternoon was significant for the visitors as well given the state of play in the race for the top six.

At the interval, those aspirations were bleak. It had not been for a lack of effort at Ibrox, though. United were able to exploit the altered Rangers rear-guard and could have registered before they pulled one back through Fatah. Max Watters was close with a header, while Neil Farrugia advanced down the right and made the wrong decision as he found Jack Butland with a tame cross.

The keeper should have done better at the United goal. So should Tochi Chukwuani earlier in the move and John Souttar at the decisive moment. Fatah skipper inside the defender and found the far corner.

Goodwin’s side never looked out of it. Watters had forced Butland into a save after getting away from Souttar and United kept playing their game. Sapsford converted a Luca Stephenson cross to make it 3-2 but their efforts proved in vain.

Big names were missing for Rangers

Rohl kept the most important bit of team news to himself on Friday morning as he revealed that a player was set to miss the next couple of weeks through injury. On Saturday afternoon, it was confirmed that Tuur Rommens was the mystery man.

The left-back has been the pick of the January recruits and a hugely influential figure at both ends of the park. Supporters who were fearing the worst will now have to hope for the best and wish the Belgian a speedy recovery. Rohl confirmed pre-match Rommens will miss two more matches as a ‘minimum’ after sustaining a muscle injury in training on Thursday.

The inclusion of Jayden Meghoma in his place was one of three big calls that Rohl made. There was no place for Manny Fernandez or Chermiti. Souttar started at centre-back, while Aasgaard was also given the nod once again as Skov Olsen returned. Sterling was preferred to James Tavernier after the skipper missed the majority of the sessions during the break due to injury and illness and was an impressive performer.

Moore was off the left and Aasgaard operated ahead of Nico Raskin and Chukwuani. The 4-2-2-2 that has been used so often of late was ditched. When the changes came at the break, they were in personnel rather than shape as Chermiti and Gassama were introduced. Miovski replaced Aasgaard for the final quarter of an hour and partnered the Portuguese.

Another Skov Olsen no-show

They say that form is temporary and class is permanent. It would be wrong to write Skov Olsen off as a player that has lost all of his ability. He is, however, bang out of sync and there is little to suggest that he can have the kind of impact he was signed to have.

For many, the notion of a £9million transfer and long-term contract is out of the question. The Dane would have to show something extraordinary over the final six matches of the season to turn the tide of public opinion in his favour.

This was another ineffective performance. He contributed almost nothing in the first 45 minutes and spent the second watching from the dugout behind his manager. This was not how this move – one designed to kick-start his career and Rohl’s title bid – was supposed to work out.

A corner in the first minute didn’t reach the middle of the area. One from the opposite side hit the first man. When he got the ball, his instinct was to go backwards, to play it safe.

Within minutes of his introduction, Gassama had brought pace and purpose to the Rangers attack. He also got an assist. He is not the perfect solution on the right wing, but the man who was supposed to solve a long-standing issue is a problem that Rohl may not be able to solve.