Hearts vs Rangers: Derek McInnes insists his side are 'underdogs' as Danny Röhl admits Tynecastle trip is 'huge' for title hopes
Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts are four points clear of Rangers ahead of Monday's match at Tynecastle Park; Harry Milne and Cammy Devlin could be fit for hosts, while Tuur Rommens in contention to feature for visitors; watch Hearts vs Rangers on Monday from 5pm live on Sky Sports
Friday 1 May 2026 15:19, UK
Come Monday night, the Scottish Premiership’s three-horse title race could lose a horse.
Or all three teams could be separated by just a single point. That's the jeopardy of the split, and that's why we all love it.
- Scottish Premiership games coming up live on Sky Sports
- Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app 📱
- Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract 📺
- Hearts, Celtic & Rangers fans discuss title race
With four games remaining, league leaders Hearts host third-place Rangers - live on Sky Sports - with a four-point advantage over their title rivals.
It's almost win or bust for Danny Röhl, who would have more than a furlong to make up if his side were to lose.
For Derek McInnes, the salivating opportunity to eliminate a rival from the title race.
Are Hearts still underdogs?
The Tynecastle side have led the way after every round of fixtures since matchday six and are still unbeaten in the league at home.
They are also bidding to equal Sir Alex Ferguson's record number of single-season victories against the Old Firm, which has stood for nearly 50 years.
Yet McInnes insists his side remain underdogs.
Perhaps we've all forgotten about that label since they've led for so long, or maybe the consistent level of performance that has kept them at the summit.
Either way, Hearts are in uncharted territory.
"We go into these games normally as an underdog and I think that we have always been an underdog this season with real belief, genuine belief," McInnes told Sky Sports News.
"We've played with a confidence and a belief that we can win the game. Even last week, or any of the derby games we've played, we've always tried to go to the wire to try and win games with a lot of late winners.
"The games against Rangers and Celtic have been a good reference for me getting into these games because we're going to have to lean on everything.
"But I think when it comes to this stage of the season, you just try to find that winning performance because winning brings so much to it and defeats can be quite damaging, and there's not a lot of room for error.
"Our record has been really strong, and I think it's down to the determination of the team.
"I think we've used Tynecastle brilliantly this season, it's exactly how I wanted it to be and how I hoped it would be this season for our team.
"We want to make it as hostile and as loud as possible and try to get every little advantage going.
"Rangers have got huge advantages over us in terms of what they spend, and for us to even be in the same conversation, it shows you the effort from everybody, and the fans have got a part to play on Monday as well."
Röhl: Hearts trip like a 'cup final'
When Röhl spoke to Sky Sports News ahead of facing managerless St Mirren in March, he declared the next fixture as the first of "nine cup finals".
He referenced these "cup finals" after every intervening victory, ticking each game off one-by-one before Motherwell handed him just his second league defeat since taking the job last October.
Crucially, that loss took the title out of Rangers' hands, who had previously won four in a row and scored 15 goals in the process.
Defeat on Monday though, and those three remaining "cup finals" could fold into placing matches.
"It's a big game ahead of us. I think everyone is looking forward to this game, not just the supporters, us as well," Röhl told Sky Sports News.
"We face the leader of the table and we want to take points. We have four games to go, I think this is important to understand.
"It is a huge one, if we won, maybe it's the final final? But after the final final comes the next final final, and this is until the end.
"It makes no sense to value one game bigger than the other one.
"We have to face a strong opponent, I think they're doing well over the whole season, but we want to face them, we want to take something, and then after this game we have the next final final."
Can Hearts eliminate Rangers from the title race?
Arithmetically, no. But it's a tall order from seven points back.
Since Hearts claimed top spot on September 27, Rangers have been the only side capable of temporarily knocking them off - albeit for fewer than 24 hours.
A win for the Jambos is more than just another three points. It narrows the focus and almost makes it a straight shoot-out between them and second place Celtic - who they visit on the final day.
However, McInnes won't count out Rangers just yet.
"Every team is in with a chance of the title. I still see it as they're well in it and everybody can deal with their own business," he added.
"So that makes it even more exciting. It's a game that we feel we've got a good enough record in, but hopefully a good enough one on the night to win the game.
"I don't know how Rangers would view it. For me, I think everybody will look at it and think they're still in a strong position.
"Obviously, we're few points clear, but that can quickly change. It was a good weekend for us last weekend, but we're well aware that it could be easily us on the wrong side at this weekend, and then all of a sudden, there's a bit more optimism with the other teams.
"So from my point of view, and I don't know how other teams are thinking, but I think everybody will feel they've got the performances in them to win a league at this stage.
"So we just need to concentrate on ourselves, I'm not really thinking too much about what the opposition are thinking.
"It's just about us trying to concentrate on the performance and hopefully it's good enough on Monday to win the game."
Röhl: Tynecastle a difficult environment
Hearts remain unbeaten at home in the league and have inflicted defeats on both Old Firm sides at Tynecastle this season.
In fact, before last weekend's loss to Motherwell at Ibrox, Röhl's side hadn't been beaten since they were bested at the home of the leaders in December.
With almost 20,000 expectant Jambos filling those steep terraces, Colin Chisholm set to belt out another goosebump-raising rendition of 'The Hearts Song', and McInnes calling on a "hostile" atmosphere, Röhl understands how tough a venue this is.
"Yeah, I think it's a difficult environment," he added.
"They're doing really well, they're making the basics right, there's not so much net gametime in the game, a lot of start-stops, I think we have to handle this.
"We will face a lot of second balls, throw-ins, set-plays, I think it's very important that we have a strong referee performance as well on the pitch.
"There will be a lot of duels, 50-50 situations, and this is crucial as well. Then we want to bring our style of football, our intensity on the pitch, and they want to bring their style on the pitch, and then we will see who is better on this day."
Team news
McInnes is "hopeful" that at least one, or maybe both, of Cammy Devlin and Harry Milne will return in time.
Tuur Rommens returned to Rangers training on Thursday, and Ryan Naderi has made "huge steps" in his recovery, but John Souttar has a "small issue".
