Rangers

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Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson is impressed with how Danny Rohl has tightened up the Ibrox side's defence since becoming head coach.

Rohl replaced Russell Martin last month after a dismal start to the season both domestically and in Europe.

The German was beaten 3-0 in the Europa League by Brann in his first match in charge, before back-to-back league wins over Kilmarnock and Hibernian.

Rangers were then beaten by Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals on Sunday - falling to a 3-1 loss in extra time having played the majority of the game with 10 men after Thelo Aasgaard was sent off.

"He's inherited a really difficult job," Thomson said of Rohl on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They obviously made a difficult start under Danny, the European game. They looked way too open - he's tweaked that and made them harder to beat.

"It looked like the sending off [against Celtic] galvanised them. They were rigid and hard to beat at Easter Road, so there's optimism of some sort of progress.

"The fans are with him and rightly so, but the team are going to have to go on a run and build momentum to get everyone on side and climb the league."

Former Ibrox midfielder Steven Davis has played down suggestions he could be about to make a stunning return to Rangers on Danny Rohl's coaching team. (The Herald)

Celtic master O'Neill taught pupil Rohl a hard lesson in the League Cup semi-final - but Rangers' display suggests the German has something. (Daily Record)

Rangers have wasted fortunes on players that aren't good enough and must now play catch-up with Celtic under Rohl. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

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Rangers captain James Tavernier admits the Ibrox side fell short in not overcoming Celtic to reach the Premier Sports Cup final, despite being reduced to 10-men.

Midfielder Thelo Aasgaard saw red shortly before half-time after catching Anthony Ralston's thigh with his studs.

Despite that, Rangers rallied to take the game to extra-time after Tavernier levelled Johnny Kenny's opener from the penalty spot.

Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand goals eventually sealed Celtic's passage to the final, where they will face St Mirren.

"The fighting spirit was there," Tavernier said. "But, obviously we fell short. We felt we could win the game, even in extra time. We weren't clinical enough."

Tavernier pointed to decisions from referee Nick Walsh, particularly when Celtic's Auston Trusty caught Jack Butland's head with his studs just before half-time.

He received a yellow card, with Rangers furious the punishment wasn't greater.

"He {referee Walsh] just said it's the force of the stamp," Tavernier explained. "But it's still the intent, no matter if it's hard or soft, it's still his head. That's their job; there's no excuse.

"I think you've seen in the past two games that we've really shown better togetherness, a better way of playing. It changes when you go down 10 men but we have to be more clinical in each box. We fell short."

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James McFadden on BBC Scotland: "It was a great game of football and it was so engaging.

"There was no break in play and the tempo was so high.

"Polar opposite from the previous Old Firm derby. A great advert for the game because it lived up to expectations.

"Rangers have gone for it with 10 men and Celtic just upped the tempo in extra time when they made their man advantage tell.

"Callum Osmand. Why has he not been an option until now when Celtic have been struggling up front?"

Alan Hutton on Premier Sports: "Danny Rohl was brave in the second half.

"It's easy to sit back and defend and try to hit on the counter, but it shows the mindset and mentality of this manager in the way they attacked the second half."

Billy Dodds on BBC Scotland: "It was so intentional by Trusty. He just rakes his studs across Butland's face.

"That would have really levelled up the game if he had been sent off and you wonder what might have happened.

"Then there was Ralston hand ball. It was intentional that he threw himself to block the ball.

"It should be a second yellow. I don't think [referee] Nick Walsh covered himself in glory."

Captain Callum McGregor and teenage substitute Callum Osmand scored in extra time to take holders Celtic into the League Cup final at 10-man Rangers' expense in a pulsating match at Hampden.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl : "I think this is tough for the team because we had the feeling we could beat them even with 10 men.

"We put a lot of effort in, showed a lot of resilience and a lot of good spirit in the second half, nice football, we were brave.

"We were not just sitting back and I thought the equaliser was deserved.

"Then you go into extra time and then go down 2-1, but even then we had two opportunities when we were one against one.

"We really thought we could beat them, even with 10 men. We were not sitting back and waiting, we were brave in the second half and I thought the equaliser was deserved.

"It was important to see the reaction after the red card and it was outstanding.

"We have to talk about what we can improve but there are many positives to take forward."

Rohl then bats away a question about the two possible red card moments for Celtic.

"It's not my job to speak about decisions on the pitch," says the German. "I just focus on my team."

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Celtic will make a late decision on left-back Kieran Tierney (groin) while potential replacement Marcelo Sarrachi is expected to shake off a knock.

Right-back Alistair Johnston and striker Kelechi Iheanacho are set to remain on the sidelines with hamstring injuries, while defender Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) and winger Jota (knee) are long-term absentees.

Rangers are missing suspended midfielder Connor Barron and remain without winger Rabbi Matondo (knee), defender Dujon Sterling (Achilles) and midfielder Kieran Dowell (foot).

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Rangers captain James Tavernier believes the side responded the right way from Danny Rohl's first game in charge to his second.

Following a 3-0 defeat in Brann in Norway in the German's first game in charge, Tavernier gave a scathing post-match assessment, admitting he was "raging" and describing a third loss out of three in the Europa League as "disgraceful".

Rohl's side have won back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches against Kilmarnock at home and Hibernian away since, giving the club a boost as they prepare for their Premier Sports Cup semi-final against city rivals Celtic on Sunday.

Tavernier, who turned 34 on Friday, said: "You never want it to get to that stage and you never want to have performances like that.

"But it's a good thing that we've seen a reaction and it's a positive one.

"So, we've got to build on that and keep pushing each other, keep wanting to demand and run for each other and show real togetherness.

"And I think the past two games, we've really seen that. So, I really want that to continue."

Tavernier believes the arrival of the former Sheffield Wednesday boss represents a new start for Rangers' squad, who won only five games in 17 before Russell Martin departed as manager.

He said: "He's almost wanted it to be a fresh slate. You can obviously feel that when you're playing at Ibrox.

"With the fans, it feels like a fresh slate. So, the boys have really responded well.

"Obviously, the Brann game came thick and fast, he was two days in the door.

"So it was difficult to get as much information as possible. But I think the boys have really responded well since then because obviously, I wouldn't really say it was tactical that day.

"It was more as a team and effort and what we put into that game and I think we really responded well from then.

"It's about consistency now. We have to keep stepping it up and keep putting in the performances."

The right-back is now in the final year of his contract at Ibrox, and as speculation surrounding his future comes and goes, he insists the hunger to win still burns brightly inside.

He added: "I've got a lot of years in front of me still. My legs are still very good.

"Every game I treat with the utmost respect and I always want to win.

"The desire and hunger to win games is always there.

"It's there when I'm playing games with my kids or I'm playing on the PlayStation with my brother.

"It's always there. I just want to win. It'll always continue to be there."

Speculation linking midfielder Joe Rothwell with an early departure from Rangers has been emphatically dismissed by sources close to the club. (TeamTalk), external

Jonathan Hunter-Barrett is to be appointed as Rangers' new academy director, with the 35-year-old leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers to assume the position. (Rangers Review), external

Former Rangers defender David Weir has become Strasbourg sporting director. (Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Danny Rohl aims to exude "calmness" in the heat of his first Old Firm derby - but admits he will show "fire" if necessary.

The 36-year-old leads Rangers into Sunday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden with confidence after recovering from a 3-0 Europa League loss in Brann by winning his first two domestic games as Ibrox head coach.

"I try to be a good mural in front of my group," Rohl said. "If you are very nervous as a manager, the players look to you.

"I try to give them this calmness, to give them the belief and the conviction that we prepared well and we know what we have to do, and if we do this then it helps massively. For me, it is really important that I am still calm."

However, the German is not afraid to show his anger if he feel it is required.

"I could be on fire sometimes at half-time, if it doesn't work [out] or after the game," he added. "When you are a manager at the beginning of your career, you will also learn [when to do this].

"I learned a lot in the last two years in Sheffield and I reflected in the summer, what I have to do, what I have to avoid. Every day it is about learning, preparation and from this part hopefully I make all the right things."

Rohl also lifted the lid on the mood in the camp after Rangers secured consecutive victories for the first time this season.

"It is lively," he said. "This is most key at the moment. When you arrive, the players look to you and ask which ideas the new manager has. Then you go to the first game and you have a defeat.

"It was crucial on one side that we lost this game, but I think we won after this game a lot of things. The last two games helped me now to understand more and more the league because when you arrive you can watch videos but you have to feel the opponents and this helps a lot in the last couple of days.

"At the moment, the positive energy is really back, the belief is there."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden this weekend.

Here are the key points:

• He's excited for his first Old Firm derby, admitting he used to watch them on TV back in Germany: "Growing up it was of course a world-famous game, you always enjoy it because there's always action, drama, intensity, goals, tight games, fighting spirit on the pitch."

• On Sunday's game: "I expect a big, big one. I think this is why we love this game, to be part of such a game. It's all or nothing. You win, you come in the final. You lose, you're out."

• Rohl has "big respect" for Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill, who has taken charge of 27 Old Firm derbies: "I think this is always great as a manager when you work so long in this business and you are successful."

• The 36-year-old adds: "I'm just at the beginning of my career. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point and from this year. But the good thing is we start by 0-0, different generations and let's see what we can bring with our teams in this game."

• Rohl says reaching the final would be a "massive boost" and "big result" early in his Ibrox tenure.

• After winning the last two games "the positive energy is really back, the belief is there".

• Rohl will lean on his experience of playing in matches against the likes of Borussia Dortmund when he was Bayern Munich assistant: "I know what it means for the fans, this is more than just a game and I think with the spirit we should go in such a game."

• Rohl says the comments from O'Neill, before he got the Celtic job, on Rangers being a poor team won't act as motivation for this tie, because the Ibrox squad are "really motivated for such a game. Everybody wants to play this game because they want to be part of this game and they want to be part of a successful team".

• On the players quickly taking his ideas on board: "They are really listening and they bring it with a good character on the pitch. I think it's fantastic to see. But even we know it's just two steps forward, not more."

• On his calm demeanour: "I think I try to be a good mural in front of my group. If you are very nervous as a manager, the players look to you. I try to give them as well this calmness, to give them the belief and the conviction that we prepared well and we can go and we know what we have to do.

• Team news: Midfielder Connor Barron is suspended and there are no fresh injuries.

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New head coach Danny Rohl's tactical changes, that have led Rangers to consecutive victories for the first time this season, aren't "rocket science", according to former striker Rory Loy.

Loy says it's been the "simple, basic things" the German has implemented that have changed Rangers' fortunes.

"They've changed the shape, gone to a three at the back. [Jayden] Meghoma has been freed up, he has less defensive responsibility. He's been great the last couple of weeks," Loy told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"Even [Max] Aarons was slightly better the other night, playing at wing-back. Rohl has changed the shape, he's prepared to be more pragmatic to get the confidence up."

Rangers defeated Kilmarnock 3-1 last weekend in Rohl's home debut before a slender victory over Hibs at Easter Road.

"Set-pieces, for and against, it looks like the players understand what's being asked of them now," Loy added. "It is a good start for Rohl, but it's early days.

"As we know one defeat can turn it all around and they've got the small matter of the semi-final derby on Sunday."

As well as the tweaks on the pitch, Loy also thinks the 36-year old understands the club in a way Russell Martin didn't.

"He seems to have done a lot of things that Martin didn't do," he said. "And by that, I don't mean the football. Rohl seems to understand the fans slightly better, engage with the fans.

"Martin had no idea of players' standings within the club. He made a few comments about [Nicolas] Raskin and [Kieran] Dowell and other players where he just didn't seem to have any concept of what had gone on before.

"It didn't seem like he'd done his due diligence, whereas I think Rohl has, I think he's more educated on the opposition he's playing. I think that's evident."

Sportscene pundits Jackie McNamara and Neil McCann give their thoughts and predictions for the Premier Sports Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden on Sunday.

On-loan Rangers winger Ross McCausland says he is loving his time with Aris and thinks the Cypriot club's obligation to buy could be triggered in January. (Daily Record), external

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke backs his 49ers Enterprises employers over the "very brave and interesting appointment" of Danny Rohl at Rangers. (Scottish Sun), external

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Another penalty conceded by Rangers, another Jack Butland save to bail his team-mates out.

The England international had a pretty poor record before he came to Scotland. He had saved just four of the 33 penalties he had faced during spells at Birmingham, Barnsley and Stoke – as well as one for his national side.

He conceded his first seven as a Rangers player, too. But the tide has turned drastically since May last year.

The 32-year-old has now stopped six of the past seven spot-kicks - excluding shootouts - taken against him, adding to his tally on Wednesday night by denying Hibernian's Jamie McGrath.

While five of the penalty saves have been in games Rangers lost, this was the second time Butland's side have beaten Hibs 1-0 and kept a clean sheet thanks to Butland's heroics.

It is also the second time he has denied McGrath, saving a spot-kick against him when the Irishman was at Aberdeen last season.

"I faced him [McGrath] before, when he was at Aberdeen, and it went well then," Butland said on Wednesday night.

"It's always pot luck. I did my homework a little bit and it paid off."

As well as the win, the save contributed to Rangers' first away clean sheet in 2025 – a sequence of 25 games in all competitions, the worst run in the club's history - and helped secure successive wins under Danny Rohl.

"It's something that we needed to sort out," Butland acknowledged. "It's something that's been really important to us, something that we really focused on."

It's worth noting before this weekend's Hampden showdown that three of the past five Old Firm derbies have ended in a draw, and Celtic are League Cup holders after a spot-kick decider against Rangers last season

Penalties might not be the worst thing for Rohl's side then, not when they have an ace up their sleeve.