Rangers

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Rangers defender Jayden Meghoma has praised the work of head coach Danny Rohl with the club now in a "fantastic position to win the title".

When Rohl arrived at Rangers in October, following Russell Martin's sacking after a 1-1 draw at Falkirk, the club were 13 points behind league leaders Hearts.

Now, with six games to go, Rangers are just one point off top spot.

"Yeah, he's been instrumental to our success," Meghoma said of the boss.

"He's come in and he's changed things for all of us. You can see it in the group, you can see it with the fans. For us, it's just about pushing on and he's really helped us be in this position.

"From where we were at the start of the season to now is phenomenal. He and the team have put ourselves in a fantastic position to go on and win the title."

Meghoma, 19, is on loan from English Premier League outfit Brentford but has found himself second choice following the arrival of Tuur Rommens from Westerlo in the January window.

Rangers will be without Rommens this weekend through injury but Meghoma is relishing the competition.

"Healthy competition is always important for myself and for Tuur as well," the left-back added.

"So, to be honest with you, I've enjoyed it because it kind of pushes a different side of you and you kind of figure out what you have to do to get back into the team and that sort of thing.

"So, it's all a learning experience for me and I've enjoyed it.

"You can pick a lot of things from a lot of players and Tuur's obviously one of them.

"You learn things that he does from his past experiences and you look at what other players are doing around the team to kind of aid your game, essentially.

"But I think over the season a lot of players have kind of helped me with learning new things here and there."

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Falkirk continue without Louie Marsh and Ethan Williams (both thigh) but have no other selection problems.

Rangers pair Ryan Naderi and Tuur Rommens miss out, while Andreas Skov Olsen and Mikey Moore are fitness doubts.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's Premiership visit to Falkirk. Here is what he had to say:

• Striker Ryan Naderi could miss the rest of the season after being forced off with an injury against Dundee United. "It's a serious one, we don't know when he's back," said Rohl

• There are "question marks" around the fitness of Mikey Moore and Andreas Skov Olsen for the trip to the Falkirk Stadium.

• Tuur Rommens should return from injury to play a part in the post-split fixtures. "Maybe the first, if everything goes well, but later is the second game in the split."

• Rangers have all the ingredients to become champions. "We have the belief, we have the quality, we have the mindset and the mentality to win this title."

• The fact that Hearts, Rangers and Celtic have all won on the same weekend only once in this Premiership season shows how dangerous every game is. "I think it's crazy that you have this, it was just only one week that all the three teams won. Hopefully on the weekend we make our win. Then we don't care about the other two opponents in this race."

• Falkirk will play with a freedom having secured their top six spot. "Big respect to Falkirk, I think they're playing a good season to come in the first six of the table, I think this is a great achievement so far. They're still in the cup, I think this is nice for them as well. It means as well, we will face an opponent, they have nothing to lose now."

Motherwell forward Elijah Just is on a list of Rangers transfer targets, along with Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles, Dundee defender Luke Graham and Sheffield United forward Tyrese Campbell. (Record - subscription required), external

Former Rangers manager Barry Ferguson sees similarities between Ibrox winger Andreas Skov Olsen and Vaclav Cerney, who played for Ferguson last season. (Record - subscription required), external

Friday's Scottish gossip

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• Rangers' Djeidi Gassama has had more shots following carries (29) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season, while he ranks second in the division for successful dribbles (53), behind Ibrahim Said's 57.

• Rangers have scored four goals in both of their last two league games, last doing so three games running in the league in December 2020 under Steven Gerrard.

• None of Falkirk's last eight home league games have been drawn, with the Bairns winning four and losing four since a goalless draw with Motherwell in December.

• Rangers have only lost one of their last 47 top-flight meetings with Falkirk (W38 D8), a 0-1 defeat in December 2006 under Paul Le Guen.

• Falkirk are unbeaten in their last four home league games against Rangers (W2 D2) since a 2-0 defeat in the Scottish Championship in August 2014.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Rangers now know their exact route to potential glory in the most unpredictable title race in Scotland's top flight for decades.

First up, as they already knew, is a second trip of the season to Falkirk - the venue for Russell Martin's final game in charge.

The result on Sunday could set the tone for the run-in.

Rangers could be back in third by the time the game kicks off, assuming Hearts and Celtic win their home games on Saturday, so it's yet another psychological shift for the players to deal with.

They have yet to beat Falkirk this season and now know they must play them away from home twice in their final six games. A win on Sunday is imperative and would augur well for what might well be a must-win game on the last day.

Rangers always knew they faced four away fixtures in their last half-dozen games and the run of three successive draws before the narrow win at St Mirren will be fresh in supporters' memories.

The flip side of that is they have more points per game on their travels than any other team, losing just once at Tynecastle.

Seven of their 15 away games have ended in draws and while a point at either Hearts or Celtic Park post-split may be valuable, they know they cannot afford to drop many more points if they are to finish the season on top.

That outcome is tantalisingly close but so much remains to be done to seal it.

This weekend will tell us a lot about whether Danny Rohl's side have the mettle to become champions.

Head coach Steven Pressley says Dundee will stick to their valuation of Luke Graham this summer, having already turned down big offers from Portsmouth for the 22-year-old centre-half in January. (The Courier), external

Luke Graham is very keen on a move to Rangers, who are working to get ahead of their rivals in the race for the Dundee centre-half's signature, but competition remains fierce, with Celtic and English clubs also interested in the 22-year-old. (TeamTalk), external

Dundee centre-half Luke Graham has a better chance of being a consistent starter for Rangers than he does with Celtic next season as both clubs eye a move for his services. (Football Insider), external

James Tavernier looks more likely to leave Rangers this summer with talks with the their 34-year-old captain about a new contract having stalled while pursuing their interest in taking 22-year-old Liverpool wide man Luca Stephenson, currently with Dundee United, on loan. (Football Insider), external

Leeds United are prepared to allow Joe Gelhardt to leave this summer despite his good form on loan to Hull City and Rangers will hope to use their financial links to the Championship club to their advantage in pursuing the 23-year-old forward for whom there is plenty of rival interest. (Football Insider), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers will hope 16 May and Hearts at Celtic Park is not a bad omen as they aim to emerge victorious from this season's three-way battle for the Scottish title.

While Danny Rohl's side have been handed a third trip of the season to Falkirk on the final weekend of the Premiership campaign, Derek McInnes' current leaders will head to the east end of Glasgow to face reigning champions Celtic.

And it will be 28 years to the day since Hearts beat Rangers 2-1 at the very same Celtic Park to lift the Scottish Cup.

The cup final had been switched from Hampden Park while the national stadium was being renovated, but Rohl will hope his rebuilt side will beat their Edinburgh rivals - and Celtic - to the silverware this time round.

This is the second season in a row when there has had to be imbalance in home and away fixtures for one team - this time because Falkirk have claimed an unexpected top-six place.

It is the sixth-placed Bairns themselves who the Scottish Professional Football League has decided to hand an extra home game, most likely because they are unlikely to be involved in the race for European qualification places.

That also means they will host Rangers for a third time, with the second coming on Sunday in the final game before the league splits in two for the final five fixtures.

Given there are only three points between third-top Celtic and Hearts, who are one ahead of Rangers, there is a good chance the title will not be decided before that final weekend and Falkirk have already proven difficult opponents, drawing both home and away with the Ibrox side.

Rangers will be hopeful of taking three points at home to Motherwell, who have slipped out of title contention, in their first game of the post-split fixtures on Sunday, 26 April.

However, it is the next two games that are potentially most crucial, and hazardous, away to both their title rivals - Hearts on Monday, 4 May, then Celtic six days later.

It will likely be vital that Rangers at least avoid defeat in both of those before concluding with what are, on paper, their two easiest games - at home to fifth-top Hibernian and then that potentially big day in Falkirk and a first title victory since 2021.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

The weekend went pretty well for us.

Winning against Dundee Utd with a 4-2 result was welcome off the back of the Aberdeen victory before the international break.

However, the match itself threw up a few talking points over certain issues as we head into the final six fixtures.

The starting line-up, especially the defence, was a point of contention.

Unfortunately, Tuur Rommens is injured, but it was the inclusion of John Souttar that worried me, and he was involved in the concession of the first Dundee Utd goal.

As soon as Fatah ran at him, you knew something bad was going to happen - for such an experienced player, he is sadly lacking.

In the matches to come, Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have to be the central defensive partnership or come the end of the season, we will be left empty-handed.

The shape also changed, the 4-2-2-2 from Aberdeen was a 4-2-3-1 on Saturday, with Thelo Aasgaard and Ryan Naderi as the nine and 10.

Naderi was excellent for the 45 minutes he was on.

He occupied the three Dundee Utd centre-backs. His goal came from him following in an Aasgaard effort for a tap-in, a proper striker's goal. He looks the best bet of the three strikers if we are to go 4-2-3-1 in certain games.

Aasgaard in the 10 was very good. I haven't been impressed with him overall this season, but Saturday was more like it from him, with him involved in three of the four goals and scoring himself.

Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski also made an impact when coming on from the bench.

Miovski tied up the three points with a nice finish, and Chermiti missed two one-on-ones.

But it's pleasing that two of the three strikers found the net. The xG was our second-highest of the season, 3.89. Hopefully, the attacking output will continue in the last six games.

With Falkirk away before we enter the split, Danny Rohl has a few interesting choices to make as we look to beat them for the first time this season.

Fernandez has to come in for Souttar. What shape will he use? Which striker(s) will he select, and will Jayden Meghoma keep the left-back position?

So many options and selection issues for Danny Rohl to ponder, but as I keep mentioning, the three points are all I care about.

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Mikey Moore has confirmed he hopes to return to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of his loan to Rangers and win a place in the Premier League club's first team.

The 18-year-old winger is featured in a short documentary on the English club's YouTube channel.

"I just want to go back to Tottenham and hopefully get myself a place in the team," he said.

"Obviously we have got that experience of winning that trophy in the Europa League and that's what I want to do at Tottenham. I just want to bring them special moments to the fans really."

Moore recalled that, after breaking through into the Spurs first team, his progress was halted last season when he was sidelined for six weeks with the myocarditis virus that resulted in heart pain.

However, he has recovered his form in Glasgow and hopes to leave Ibrox a title winner having fallen in love with Rangers.

"For me, this is the best move I could have possibly had," he added.

"I want to play under pressure and under expectation. I don't like the idea of going somewhere and it just being another day. Any person you speak to who's played for Rangers, it's the same.

"Winning is just part of the culture and part of what these people are. It's mad to play under that expectation and it's perfect for a player like me. I want to play under that as a young player."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

GK: Raphael Sallinger (Hibernian)

Almost seems to get in by default at the moment because of another weekend lacking any outstanding goalkeeping performances. A couple of saves and a clean sheets means the Austrian gets the gloves again.

RB: Dujon Sterling (Rangers)

A solid performer at Ibrox and nabbed a goal in the vital 4-2 win over Dundee United.

CB: Luke Graham (Dundee)

A colossus at the back for the Dark Blues all afternoon. Unfortunate to be on the losing side.

CB: Alex Gogic (St Mirren)

Seldom a weekend goes by when this team of the week favourite doesn't find his way into the starting XI. His brilliant headed goal against Aberdeen and a clean sheet earns him another call-up.

LB: Jordan Obita (Hibernian)

Set up the goal for Felix Passlack after Owen Elding's pass unlocked the Kilmarnock defence. An effective presence down the Hibs left.

CM: Felix Passlack (Hibernian)

Another big goal for the former Borussia Dortmund man. The German has a knack for arriving in the box at just the right time.

CM: Stevie May (Livingston)

Once upon a time had the flowing locks and the killer touch of a goal machine number nine in his glorious St Johnstone era. These days he has refashioned himself into one of Livingston's most versatile players.

Age and injuries take their toll on all players but his precision finish and general clever play were fundamental for Livingston in their draw with Hearts.

FW: Owen Elding (Hibernian)

What a prospect he looks for Hibs. The 20-year-old who arrived from Sligo Rovers opened the scoring after 13 seconds against Kilmarnock and his pass to unlock the Killie defence for the Passlack goal was a measured thing of beauty.

FW: Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)

Powered in his headed goal and looked the part all afternoon against Livingston. Full of invention, poise and confidence. But, crucially, it's his killer instinct in the box that counts most.

With the national team struggling for goals, will he be Scotland's go-to man for the World Cup opener against Haiti?

FW: Claudio Braga (Hearts)

Player of the season? A joy to watch, every part of his game looks great right now. Never a doubt the goal would be scored when the chance came his way.

Could the partnership with Shankland be the key ingredient that gets the Hearts title tilt over the line? Earns extra points for me for his desire to stay on his feet in the box rather than look for a penalty.

FW: Calvin Miller (Falkirk)

A contender for the Scotland squad? The national team could do with a creative winger with pace and Calvin Miller has been providing that all season in the Premiership for Falkirk.

The stats add up as well, seven goals and 10 assists in all competitions.

Watch all the goals in Rangers clash against Dundee United.

We asked for your views on Rangers' 4-2 win against Dundee United, which saw them go top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Here's what some of you said:

Alex: Rangers made it hard work for themselves. The goals they lost were down to appalling, lazy defending which isn't good enough. Youssef Chermiti will never be a centre forward if he lives to be 100. Glad to have won but seriously need to stop giving away goals and take the chances created.

Elaine: Some supporters are never happy. If you had offered them this result before the game, they'd have bitten your hand off. Alright, it wasn't PSG's silky soccer but we are top of the league. Now the others hunt us. Well done Rangers and Danny Rohl.

Brian: It's all about winning but that first-half performance was simply not good enough for a team aspiring to go top of the league with Rangers being outplayed and outfought.

Andreas Skov Olsen in particular was so poor, looking for all the world as if he just didn't want to be on the park. The second half with the substitutions brought about more commitment and desire. Chermiti's failure to kill the game off could have proved fatal. The scoreline doesn't truly reflect Dundee Utd nearly getting a positive result, which in part they deserved.

Ronald: A good result but they don't do it the easy way. Give United their due, they made a good game of it and were unlucky not to equalise. Must improve in the next few games but will take 4-2 every time.

Steve: Not sure why Djeidi Gassama doesn't start. He has the talent and desire to drive the team forward and has shown that consistently of late. There is always going to be nerves in these sorts of games but we have a good selection of players now, so should be confident that we can overcome the opposition in our remaining games.

Peter: A spirited win, a comfortable win, a show of character win is what it was. Who thinks it was a 'nervy win'? Get your coat man. Here's what's happening, we are in it to win it, Danny boy. Pressure on the competition, come ahead!