Ibrox View: Rangers will be raging as SPFL bend backwards on 16-year tradition in Celtic's favour

Rangers will feel aggrieved as the Scottish Premiership has done its best to aid Celtic with the newly announced post-split fixtures.

That’s because almost every single year for the past 16 seasons, the team at the top of the table at the break tends to play at home on the final day of the season.

However, that’s not going to be the case for either one of the Bears or Hearts, as one of which is likely to be top of the table at the start of the post-split fixtures.

Gers are now just one point behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, and many from an Ibrox perspective feel they’ve been hard done by the fixtures.

But when digging deeper, the fixtures have given Rangers a reason to fume even more than first imagined.

This 16-year trend shows Celtic have edge over Rangers and Hearts

Rangers will play Falkirk away on the final day of the season as Hearts head to Celtic Park to face the Hoops, in what could be a huge game for the Bears also.

Danny Rohl‘s side have made good progress, and there’s a high chance that they will be top of the table come the break, which could see them feeling even more hard done by the fixtures if so.

As seen in the table above, only one time in the last 16 seasons has seen the team top of the league at the break then have to play their game away on the final day of the season.

It doesn’t feel like a coincidence, especially for Hearts, who pose the threat of knocking the Bears and Celtic off their dominant perch.

This has been highlighted by Ewan Cameron on X, who was surprised to learn the luck that Celtic have been given in the context of the title race.

But for Rangers, it’s also another annoying hurdle that they will have to overcome in this crazy season.

The worrying scenario heading into the final day

Rangers just need to win their game against Falkirk next to have the chance of going top of the league for the first time this season, so long as Hearts drop points to Motherwell.

If that happens, Rohl will surely be confident that his players can help the club stay top until the final day, where it all may change.

However, Rangers need to hope that Celtic are within touching distance on the final day, especially if Hearts need a win, because we know what will happen if the Hoops are already out of the title picture come gameweek 38.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.