Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has admitted the Ibrox club’s title hopes are hanging by a thread after their 2-1 defeat to Hearts…
The loss at Tynecastle leaves Danny Rohl’s side seven points adrift of the league leaders and four behind Celtic, leaving them with a significant gap to close in the final three games of the season. It would now take an unlikely run of results for them to get back into contention.
Following the match, Danny Rohl conceded winning the title had become extremely difficult.
Three horse race becomes two or does it?
O’Neill has shared that view, suggesting the Ibrox club now face a near-impossible task. Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Rangers are a number of points behind Hearts. We are talking about three games left. So that would be difficult to overcome at this particular stage. I think that is the case.
“But it is not impossible, it can happen. You can still win your games, and the games strangely enough are very difficult matches still for all of us to come through.
‘Mathematically might not be enough’
“From our own position, we have to try and win the three games. Even that, strangely enough at this minute, mathematically might not be enough, but I still think there are a couple of twists still there.
O’Neill added: “Strangely enough, if you are looking at it from a viewpoint of what you can do, all we can do is attempt to win our games which are difficult matches.”
“And even if that was the case, then Hearts having a better goal difference than us then probably deep down I was looking for a draw.
“A draw is very difficult to cheer on but I think that was the case because it would then have put it in our own hands. As it turns out mathematically speaking, it is not actually in our own hands.”
Tony Bloom has invested
When questioned if Hearts can make it a three horse race from this season onwards, O’Neill replied: “Why not? Absolutely. Tony Bloom has invested in Brighton and he has also done the same at Hearts.
“Absolutely. If you are looking at it from a neutral viewpoint, which I am certainly not, but if you were then there has been excitement this season because Hearts have come out and thrown down the gauntlet to the big teams and I think that can only be good for the league.”
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