It was another huge weekend in the Scottish Premiership with the leaders stumbling and the chasing duo closing the gap
06:00, 16 Mar 2026Updated 12:42, 16 Mar 2026
Content cannot be displayed without consentWhat did we witness at St Mirren – evidence that Rangers are still in the race or solid proof that they’re nowhere near champion material?
KEITH JACKSON: It looked a lot more like the latter. Danny Rohl’s side is sorely lacking in reliable firepower and crying out for creativity in the final third. They certainly didn’t look like potential champions despite claiming a crucial 1-0 win in Paisley.
SCOTT McDERMOTT: Do any of the top three sides look like champion material? Whoever can win ugly most weeks will probably take the trophy and Rangers at least showed grit and determination in Paisley. Points-wise, they’re certainly in the race.
MICHAEL GANNON: Rangers are still bang in the fight. It was another ugly one but none of the challengers are exactly thrilling at the moment. It’s about results now and as long as they get wins by any means, Gers are in the hunt.
ANDY NEWPORT: Well it was certainly proof that they need to improve if they are to spare the punters’ blood pressure. But we’ve slaughtered this team for cracking under strain so the fact they stood strong this time, as ugly as it was, will reassure Danny Rohl.
Give us your take on the crucial VAR intervention at Celtic Park on Saturday and can we count Motherwell out of the title running now?
KEITH: It was a penalty and a red card all day long so VAR got John Beaton off the hook. Motherwell remain where they started the weekend – ten points off the pace – which was probably too much for them to make up in the first place.
SCOTT: Two defeats in a row for Motherwell has ended their title dream but they’ll still have a say in where it ends up. They can’t have too many complaints about the Longelo incident but they have a right to ask about why VAR didn’t take a closer look at Oxlade-Chamberlain’s tackle on Just.
MICHAEL: It was a penalty and a red card. The only question was why the decision wasn’t sorted in real time. Motherwell have been brilliant, but they never got close enough to Hearts to be really in it.
ANDY: Celtic’s penalty was on the soft side. It certainly didn’t merit a red card but it was damaging to Well, who were always a long shot to go for top spot. But they can still be proud of the steps they’ve made under JBA.
Derek McInnes points out that Hearts are still top with eight games to go. But is the Kilmarnock defeat really the start of the end?
KEITH: That depends on how they react to it. Hearts didn’t play badly at Rugby Park but they didn’t perform like potential title winners either.
Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland(Image: SNS Group)
The returns of Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin can’t come quickly enough.
SCOTT: No, I wouldn’t say that. They’re running on empty just now with their squad being stretched but the return of Shankland, Devlin and Baningime will give them a huge lift at a vital time.
MICHAEL: There’s no doubt it was a huge blow and more alarming was the display and three defeats in six games has opened the door. But McInnes has big guns like Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin back this week and they can go again. The title is still the Gorgie men’s to lose.
ANDY: Not necessarily. The Jambos have been top for so long precisely because they’ve been so good at shaking off set backs. But the closer we get to the finish line, the more the pressure increases and this is new territory for most of McInnes’ men. They need forget about Saturday and focus on Dundee next week.
Findlay Curtis was a stand out at Rugby Park. So were Rangers right to let him leave on loan?
KEITH: The deal will be good for his development but just because he’s getting much needed game time at Kilmarnock doesn’t make it a smart decision. He should be getting it at Ibrox in Danny Rohl’s starting XI.
SCOTT: No. The youngster did more in the first half against Hearts on Saturday night than Andreas Skov Olsen has done since he arrived at Ibrox. Of course, it’s great that he’s getting loads of game time at Killie but Danny Rohl should have kept him on board for the title run-in.
MICHAEL: It looks like the wrong move given Gers are struggling for creativity but looking at the bigger picture, this spell in Ayrshire could be the catalyst to becoming a regular in the future.
ANDY: Yes because he wasn’t getting the minutes he needed at Ibrox. He’ll rejoin Danny Rohl’s squad in the summer, a better player for his Rugby Park experience.