Rangers Held By Hibernian As Hearts Extend Lead

The Scottish Premiership title race has taken another intriguing turn, as Rangers’ six-game domestic winning streak came to a screeching halt with a goalless draw at Hibernian, leaving the Glasgow giants six points adrift of leaders Hearts. The weekend’s results, capped off on January 31, 2026, have reshaped the landscape at the top, with Celtic also making moves to pile on the pressure in the hunt for silverware.

Rangers traveled to Easter Road knowing only a win would suffice if they hoped to keep pace with the relentless Hearts, who had dispatched Dundee United with a commanding 3-0 victory the previous Saturday. The stakes were sky-high. Instead, the Ibrox men found themselves stifled by a resilient Hibs side that seemed determined to make amends after their own recent drubbing in Falkirk. It was a match that saw both teams struggle for attacking fluency, but it’s Hibernian who may feel this was a missed opportunity, having carved out the better chances over 90 tense minutes.

The first half offered few fireworks, with both sides probing from set-pieces but lacking the composure to capitalize. The match finally sparked to life when Elie Youan whipped a shot on target, only for Rangers’ ever-reliable goalkeeper Jack Butland to tip it away. That save ignited a spell of Hibernian pressure, with Martin Boyle soon breaking clear for a one-on-one chance, only to be denied by Butland’s quick reflexes. Youan, too, would rue a missed close-range header as the hosts threatened to seize control.

After the interval, Hibs continued to press. Youan was again in the thick of the action, thwarted this time by a desperate last-ditch Rangers block, before looping another header just over the bar. Rangers, for their part, looked surprisingly flat in attack. Despite their urgent need for three points, they mustered just two shots on target all game—a statistic that will doubtless frustrate manager Danny Rohl and the traveling faithful.

There was late drama, of course. Mikey Moore thought he had finally broken the deadlock for Rangers, only for VAR to intervene and chalk off his finish for offside. That decision left both sets of supporters on edge as the match wound down, but neither side could find a way through in a frenetic finale marked by desperate defending and missed opportunities. As the final whistle blew, it was clear this was a result that suited Hearts more than anyone else.

"We had to dig deep and show character after last week," Hibs boss David Gray said after the match, echoing the sense that his side had steadied the ship. "It’s a point gained, but also a feeling of what might have been." For Rangers, the sense of frustration was palpable. Their six-game winning run may have ended, but their defensive solidity remains intact—this was their fourth consecutive league clean sheet, extending their Premiership shutout streak to an impressive 473 minutes. That’s the first time they’ve managed four straight clean sheets since a six-match run back in December 2021, a testament to Rohl’s defensive organization even as the attack sputtered.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Celtic took full advantage of Rangers’ slip, defeating Falkirk 2-0 at Parkhead to leapfrog their Glasgow rivals into second place on goal difference. The match saw new signing Tomas Cvancara make an instant impact, glancing home a header on his home debut six minutes before the break. Benjamin Nygren, in red-hot form, curled in a second just after the hour mark, extending his personal scoring streak to four consecutive league games. Only Hearts, with goals in 22 league matches this season, have found the net more consistently than Celtic’s 20, underscoring the attacking depth at manager Martin O’Neill’s disposal.

"It’s always nice to score on your debut, especially in front of our fans," Cvancara told reporters post-match, his delight evident. "But the most important thing is the three points—we keep pushing." Nygren, whose sharp finish capped a dominant Celtic performance, added, "The team’s confidence is growing, and we know there’s still a lot to play for." The result, however, did little to quell unrest among some sections of the Celtic support, who voiced their dissatisfaction with the club’s board despite the win—evidence that off-pitch concerns remain a talking point in the east end of Glasgow.

For Hearts, the arithmetic is simple: they finished the weekend six points clear at the summit, their 3-0 triumph at Dundee United setting the tone for their rivals’ missteps. The Jambos have now scored in 22 consecutive league matches, a remarkable run that highlights their consistency and attacking threat. With both Glasgow clubs still chasing, the Edinburgh side’s advantage could prove crucial as the title race enters its decisive phase.

Looking at the bigger picture, the current standings reflect a Premiership campaign that’s anything but predictable. Rangers, despite their defensive prowess, now face an uphill battle to reel in Hearts, with Celtic breathing down their necks and showing signs of renewed attacking verve. The goalless draw at Easter Road may be remembered as a pivotal moment—one where Rangers’ lack of creativity cost them dear, and where Hibs, though resolute, missed their own chance to claim a statement win.

As for the numbers, they tell a story of fine margins and shifting momentum. Rangers have now kept four consecutive league clean sheets, a feat last achieved in December 2021, and haven’t conceded in 473 minutes of Premiership action. Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren has found the net in four straight league games, while Tomas Cvancara’s debut goal suggests O’Neill’s side may have added another potent weapon to their arsenal. Hearts, meanwhile, continue to set the pace, their 22-game scoring streak a mark of champions in waiting—though there’s still a long road ahead.

With the next round of fixtures looming, all eyes will be on whether Rangers can rediscover their attacking spark, if Celtic’s new-look forward line can maintain its momentum, and whether Hearts can hold their nerve at the top. The Scottish Premiership title race is far from settled, and after a weekend that brought twists, tension, and tantalizing subplots, the drama is only just beginning to unfold.

For now, Hearts’ lead stands firm, but with both Glasgow clubs determined to chase them down, the coming weeks promise plenty more action, intrigue, and—if recent evidence is anything to go by—no shortage of surprises. Stay tuned: this title race is heating up, and nobody’s giving an inch.