Why a shock Hearts title would hurt Rangers most of all

In the week Claudio Braga talked up the prospect of Hearts winning a historic title as a “beautiful story” that could be enjoyed “around the world”, it was a reminder of how nightmarish a scenario it would be for others in Scotland. Naturally, supporters of Hibernian are dreading the idea of their Edinburgh neighbours winning a first league title since 1960 , in what would be the equivalent of doomsday on Easter Road, but the greater hurt may actually be over in Glasgow. The sense of regret around Rangers if they ultimately fail to take advantage of Celtic squandering their supremacy and lose out to either their Old Firm rivals or the unlikely challengers Hearts would be profound.

Rangers have spent more than £40m across their last two transfer windows, ten times the amount of the current leaders. Celtic may have won 13 of the last 14 titles but with their outlay Rangers should have been ready to make the most of the opportunity presented to them in a season where their rivals have sacked two managers and Martin O’Neill has returned for two caretaker spells. Instead, defeat to leaders Hearts on Monday night may knock Rangers from the title race, leaving them seven points adrift with three games to go.

“We like to play from a hunter position and now we want to hunt again,” Danny Rohl said ahead of the trip to Tynecastle, where Hearts have not lost all season. Rangers can lament the fact they have been playing catch-up since Russell Martin was sacked in October, following a return of one win in their first seven league games. They were 13 points behind Hearts when Rohl arrived but a resurgence over the winter pulled themselves to within touching distance.

When Rangers came from behind to beat Hearts at Ibrox in February to close the gap to just two points it seemingly snatched the momentum in the title race. But the story of Rangers' season has been their inability to capitalise. They immediately dropped points at bottom-club Livingston then blew a two-goal lead at home to Celtic .