Under the guidance of Danny Rohl, Rangers reclaimed their position at the summit of the Premiership standings yesterday. Rohl, embracing a novel superstition, shared that he will continue to tune out the outcomes of key matches involving title contenders Hearts and Celtic later today.
The Rangers head coach witnessed his team edge past Tynecastle on goal difference following a well-earned victory over Dundee United at home, although they’ve played an extra match compared to their rivals.
Rohl confessed he has no plans to watch the clashes between the other title contenders this afternoon. He prefers to remain in the dark, avoiding even text updates, as he believes this strategy has been instrumental in achieving favorable results.
“I’ll repeat what I did on the last matchday,” he explained. “I turn off my phone—no ticker, no LiveScore.”
“Last time, my assistant coach messaged me asking, ‘Did you see the result?'”
“I replied, ‘No, what happened?’ He told me, ‘Great result.'”
Rangers manager Danny Rohl insists he plans to tune out when Celtic and Hearts are in action
‘So, I will do exactly the same and maybe three times in a row it will happen. Let’s see — but I’m not available this time on Sunday.’
Goals from Ryan Naderi, Dujon Sterling, Thelo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski sealed the points yesterday, with Amar Fatah and Zac Sapsford scoring for United. Rohl admits, however, that he wants his side to maintain the mentality of the hunter rather than the hunted despite getting into first place.
‘I am very surprised it is two years (since Rangers were top),’ he said. ‘On the other side, the most important thing is that we still have the right mindset.
‘Even if we are top, you have to be the hunter. You cannot try to keep something. It is crucial to be on the front foot and, if we win six games, then we will have something at the end of the season.
‘I am convinced the players have the potential to do this, but there is still a long way to go. You have to humble and ready for what is next.
‘We have taken big steps, but my job now is to keep the players hungry.’
Naderi was taken off at half-time and replaced by Youssef Chermiti, with Rohl hoping he will be back for next weekend’s trip to Falkirk. Left-back Tuur Rommens, however, is out with a quad muscle problem.
Naderi opens the scoring for Rangers after a mistake from United goalkeeper Maynard-Brewer
‘On Thursday, during training, he felt something in his quad,’ explained Rohl. ‘We scanned him. It’s not a big one but still serious. Hopefully, it’s just two more games and he is ready latest for the second game in the split.
‘Tuur will do everything to be ready as soon as possible.’
Rohl termed the three points the most important thing from the day, but admitted it was a performance of ups and downs.
Fans felt Tochi Chukwuani could have committed professional fouls to stop United’s goals, but Rohl remarked: ‘I think I would say: “Be smart in the duels sometimes”. I would not ask for a foul.
‘The best thing is that you are prepared positionally. In the second goal we conceded, we were too open. We need to be quicker and more aggressive and these are things we have to improve upon.
‘We see in transitional moments against you that tactical fouls we should sometimes make, but it’s more important we can win the ball back without then foul because it gives us the opportunity to strike and turn it into an offensive moment.’
United manager Jim Goodwin, who saw his side’s slim hope of catching Falkirk for the final top-six place disappear with defeat, was left to rue some costly defensive errors.
‘The first goal is a mistake from our point of view,’ he said. ‘My keeper (Ashley Maynard-Brewer) knows he needs to do better with the initial shot. I wasn’t sure if he could have caught it but, if he’s going to tip it over the bar, then we need to make sure of that.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin felt his side contributed towards their downfall at Ibrox
‘The first three goals that we concede are all really avoidable. That’s been us all season, really, defensively. We haven’t been good enough.
‘We’re disappointed with not being able to make the top six. Credit to John McGlynn and his Falkirk players.’
Maynard-Brewer was taken off in the second 45 and faces a spell on the sidelines.
‘I think he’s dislocated his shoulder,’ said Goodwin.
