Kris Boyd, the former Rangers forward turned pundit, warned that his old club faces a make‑or‑break situation in what has already become a remarkable Scottish Premiership campaign. The Rangers must secure a win at Tynecastle against league leaders Hearts on May 4, otherwise their hopes of challenging for the championship will all but disappear. Boyd told Sky Sports, "Rangers have to go there and win, or it's done," emphasizing that the upcoming fixture is essentially a knockout for their title ambitions. The season has been anything but ordinary.
Early on, Celtic edged past Falkirk to climb into second place, while Danny Röhl’s Rangers suffered their first home defeat of the campaign at the hands of Motherwell. That loss handed the lead back to the Jambos, who have been the dominant force for most of the year. In a dramatic Edinburgh derby, Hearts, reduced to nine men, still managed a famous victory over Hibernian, pushing them three points clear of the Old Firm with only four matches remaining. For Boyd, the pressure is now squarely on Rangers.
"If we don’t win at Tynecastle, it’s over for us," he repeated, noting that he has likely said the same thing several times throughout the season. He added that a Celtic win at Ibrox would only heighten the tension for Rangers supporters, as the Glasgow giants would be buzzing with confidence after a positive result. He also highlighted the psychological edge Hearts have gained. "When Hibs went up 1‑0 they might have thought the game was theirs, but Hearts have found another way to keep winning and to keep asking questions of the big two clubs in Glasgow," Boyd explained.
The Jambos have led the table for a long stretch, and Boyd finds it hard to argue against their continued dominance. Boyd also defended Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who has faced criticism for his approach and mindset.
"There have been people questioning McInnes, but if you ask any Hearts player who they’d want as their manager, they’d name Derek McInnes," Boyd said. He praised the analytical work of Tony Bloom and the Jamestown analytics team, while stressing that success still hinges on a manager who can command full belief and control in the dressing room.
"You need players coming off the bench eager to make an impact, not just in this match but to stake a claim for the following week," he added. The upcoming clash will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with Celtic taking on Hibernian at Easter Road a day earlier. Hearts head coach Derek McInnes, speaking to Sky Sports, admitted that no team is likely to win all five of its remaining games, but stressed the importance of momentum.
"If you get a good start in the first split game, it sets you up for the next one," he said. He cautioned that a victory against Rangers would not make the following match any easier, but added that the psychological boost would be valuable. "No one is going to hand us anything; it’s all on us," McInnes asserted. Rangers manager Danny Röhl also addressed the media, focusing on resilience and belief.
"My job is to lead the team forward and lift them up," Röhl said. He acknowledged that disappointment is part of the journey but emphasized that the squad must maintain belief. "It’s not over; this is just a part of the split.
We have to keep pushing," he explained. Röhl warned against premature celebrations, noting that the season only ends when the final whistle blows. He expressed confidence in his side’s ability to secure four more wins, while recognizing the difficulty of the task. "We keep believing in what we are doing and we have the chance to turn the next game back to our side," he concluded.
In summary, the Rangers face a decisive test at Tynecastle. A win would keep their title hopes alive and maintain pressure on Celtic, while a loss could see them fall out of the race entirely. Both managers, McInnes and Röhl, understand the stakes and have stressed the need for focus, belief, and execution. As the season reaches its climax, fans of both clubs will be watching closely, hoping their teams can seize the momentum needed to finish the campaign on a high note.