Scottish Premiership challenge officially set as Rangers learn SPFL fate
16/04/2024 22:30
The Scottish Premiership challenge has been set as Rangers' final five league fixtures of the season are confirmed.
The Ibrox side will face three away days and two clashes at home against the best teams in Scotland this season ahead of a grandstand finish to the campaign.
Whilst the Scottish Premiership fixtures were not initially expected to be confirmed until after Rangers' clash with Dundee, the SPFL have released the list this afternoon.
For Rangers the challenge is simple; win these games and lift the Scottish Premiership title.
Rangers final Scottish Premiership fixtures confirmed
Rangers' post-Scottish Premiership split fixtures are as follows:
Sun 28 April | St Mirren (A) | 12:30
Sun 5 May | Kilmarnock (H) | 13:00
Sat 11 May | Celtic (A) | 12:30
Tue 14 May | Dundee (H) | 19:30
Sat 18 May | Hearts (A) | 12:30
Following tomorrow evening's game in hand with Dundee, Rangers will then face a Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Hearts at Hampden.
There is then a straight run at these five fixtures with the outcome of them set to determine who lifts the Scottish Premiership title this season.
Rangers fans will note two fixtures in particular on this list, although they all present challenges.
The 11th of May clash with Celtic at Celtic Park is a potential title decider, whilst an away day trip to Tynecastle on the final day of the season is clearly a huge match.
Home games against Kilmarnock and Dundee should take care of themselves with that trip to Paisley at the end of April a must-win to kickstart the club's ambitions post-split.
One eye on Celtic's post-split fixtures
Naturally, Rangers fans will be sizing these fixtures up against those of Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Should Rangers defeat Dundee, the Parkhead side will hold a slender one point advantage heading into these final five games of the season.
There are also some notable fixtures surrounding our Old Firm rivals which will be of interest to Rangers fans.
Of course the May 11th Old Firm stands out, but Celtic will also face Hearts at Parkhead the week before (4th May) with a midweek trip to Kilmarnock coming days after the Gers clash (15th May).
Whilst Rangers have let a sizeable title advantage slip in recent weeks, nothing is said and done and there are still some huge games to come.
But for Rangers the challenge has been set and the club will likely have to go to Celtic Park and get a result if they are to have any chance of tasting title success this season.
