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Danny Rohl told his Rangers players to stay “on the front foot” in the Premiership run-in after a 4-2 win over Dundee United took the Gers top for the first time in more than two years. Goals from Ryan Naderi, Dujon Sterling, Thelo Aasgaard and substitute Bojan Miovski proved too much in the end for the visitors, who scored through Amar Fatah and Zac Sapsford.
Rangers were 13 points behind Hearts when Rohl took over as manager in October, but they lead the Jambos on goal difference with six games remaining, albeit their rivals have the chance to go back to the top when they travel to Livingston on Sunday. Third-placed Celtic, five points behind their Old Firm rivals, face Dundee at Dens Park later the same day.
Rohl said: “I was really surprised this is the first time we’ve been top in two years. But the most important thing is that we still have the right mindset. Even now we are top, we have to stay as the hunter.
“We have 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 really convinced my players have the potential to do this. But there is still a long way to go and it’s no secret that next week away to Falkirk is a very, very difficult game.
“We will take things step by step, but we had nine ‘finals’ and we have won the first three of them. That gives us a good feeling, but nothing more. We have to be humble and ready for the next fight.”
As usual, Rohl will keep away from news of the games on Sunday. Hearts and Celtic have dropped points in recent weeks at times when Rangers were not playing and the German said: “I will do the same as the last matchday. I put my phone off, no ticker, no live score.
“Last time, I got a message from my assistant coach saying ‘did you see the result?’. I said ‘no, what happened?’. He said ‘great result’. So I will do exactly and maybe three times in a row it will happen.”
Hibernian benefited from a fast start as they defeated Kilmarnock 3-0 at Easter Road to turn up the heat on Motherwell in the battle for fourth. Hibs struck twice in the opening 12 minutes through Owen Elding and Felix Passlack before the substitute Ante Suto notched in stoppage time.
The victory moved them within three points of Well, who briefly held an eight-point advantage over the Hibees a little over a month ago. While Hibernian – now unbeaten in six matches – are chasing a position that would ensure a European place next season, Killie remain in the relegation playoff spot, three points adrift of St Mirren and Aberdeen.
St Mirren wrecked Stephen Robinson’s hopes of a winning return to Paisley as they overcame Aberdeen 2-0 in a hard-fought encounter at St Mirren Park. The Dons manager returned to his former club for the first time since swapping the Buddies for Aberdeen last month, but he left empty-handed to leave his new sidethree points above the relegation playoff spot.
Jonah Ayunga’s 40th-minute opener put St Mirren’s interim manager, Craig McLeish, on his way to back-to-back league victories, before Alex Gogic’s towering 83rd-minute header made sure of a result that moved them level on points with their ninth-placed opponents.
Falkirk secured a top-six finish with a 3-2 win at Motherwell. Barney Stewart opened the scoring with a fine header on three minutes and that set the tone at Fir Park. Elliot Watt’s fizzing volley levelled things up against the run of play, but the Bairns pounced before the break to restore their lead as Ben Broggio gleefully tapped into an empty net after Watt’s pass-back had gone astray.
Calvin Miller provided some breathing space just after the hour mark from the spot before the Bairns saw out the remainder of the contest to ensure they finished in the top half of the top flight for the first time in 31 years. Tawanda Maswanhise scored at the end as the hosts fell to a third loss in four league games.
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This story will be updated
