Livingston vs Rangers — where rangers stand after a weekend of shocks

Rangers travel to bottom-side Livingston on Sunday as the Scottish Premiership title race tightens; the match and a weekend of results have left rangers under renewed pressure and sharpened questions about consistency ahead of the split.

Rangers' league position, gaps to Hearts and Celtic, and the Livingston trip

Danny Röhl's side are two points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts and one clear of Celtic, who have a game in hand. Röhl's team visit bottom-side Livingston on Sunday, with coverage beginning at 2. 30pm and a 3pm kick-off. He said there "should be no question mark" over his players' ability to handle a title fight and stressed that consistency over the next six matches — the fixtures before the league splits — will be decisive.

Röhl's message on consistency, preparation and the run to the split

Röhl urged his squad to "prepare for the final five games with the next six games, " arguing whoever takes the most points until the split will be well placed. He said the next fixtures are "crucial, " noting that what looks like three points can determine whether the gap at the split is "two, five or eight points. " He insisted the team must approach games "very seriously, very aggressively, " and warned that one match can change everything because "it's all about 11 against 11 in 90 minutes. "

Results under Röhl, the Russell Martin timeline and recent form

Röhl replaced Russell Martin in October; since then Rangers have lost just one of their 19 league matches. That run has left the club having taken the most points of any top-flight team since his arrival, a record Röhl used to underpin his belief that "I totally believe we can do it. " He also pointed to a recent example in the wider game — Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Wolves — to warn against underestimating difficult fixtures where opponents have little to lose.

Livingston's reaction and key moments from the match buildup

Livingston manager Marvin Bartley described a "real rollercoaster of emotions" after facing Rangers, saying that if he'd been offered a 2-2 scoreline beforehand he would have taken it. He said his side had been "2-0 up" and then the turning point was "the sending off. " Bartley added that "the players gave me everything today" and that while "it's going to take a lot for us to get out of this situation" he still "saw a lot of things I liked today. "

Wider weekend results: Motherwell, Hearts and pressure on Glasgow clubs

Motherwell won emphatically and Hearts won their match as well, outcomes described as applying pressure across the table. Those results mean Motherwell would move to one point behind Celtic and three behind Rangers before Celtic and Rangers play each other the next day. Commentators noted that Motherwell could yet finish above Celtic or Rangers — possibly both — and suggested Celtic and Rangers could find themselves third and fourth in the table if trends continue.

Manager and commentator reactions, plus fan criticism

Hibs head coach David Gray said, "It's been a long time coming. That's twice we've been here [this season] and not lost. It shows we are capable if we go toe-to-toe, but it takes a level of performance, that requires every man to be at their very best. " He called the victory "a massive three points" coming after "a positive result last week against St Mirren, " and noted that Hibs are "five points behind Motherwell, still to play them twice and all the teams round about us, " adding, "It's all to play for between now and the end of the season and we'll be aiming to push up the table as hard as we can. All you can do is take one game at a time. "

Michael Stewart, identified as a former Hearts and Hibs midfielder, also contributed comment on the weekend's action. Meanwhile, vocal fan criticism targeted Russell Martin and player Trusty after a performance some supporters condemned: one fan said the defence was "rubbish, " that the midfield "go sideways or back, " that there was "no one capable of scoring up front, " called Martin "deluded" for praising the display, and described Trusty as "a buffoon, " warning that if the team performed similarly next week "it will be a no contest. "

For viewers seeking highlights, a televised highlights package is scheduled for 19: 15.