When Rangers step onto the Tynecastle pitch on Monday, they'll be carrying more than just their kits—they'll be carrying the weight of a title race that's hanging by a thread. Former Gers and Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday has weighed in, and his verdict is clear: this is a must-win for the Light Blues.

The stakes skyrocketed last weekend when Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo snatched a dramatic 90th-minute winner at Ibrox. What looked like a hard-fought 1-1 draw with 20 minutes to play turned into a devastating defeat, leaving Rangers four points adrift of the league leaders. For Halliday, that late goal didn't just change the scoreline—it changed the entire dynamic of the title chase.

"I think it's done for Rangers absolutely," Halliday told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "It'll then go to seven points between Rangers and Hearts with only nine points remaining. So they would absolutely be out of it."

The midfield veteran, who knows both sides of this rivalry intimately, painted a picture of what might have been. "If that finishes a draw, then Rangers are only three points behind Hearts with a better goal difference going to Tynecastle. So even a draw in that respect, I still think they're in the race because there's three games to go."

But the reality is different now, and Halliday believes Rangers need a bold approach. "It's a game that Rangers have to win, and it will be really interesting to see how they respond to that. If it is 1-1 or 0-0 with 10 minutes to go, for me I think they have to completely throw caution to the wind to try and win the game."

That aggressive strategy comes with risks. Halliday warns that pushing forward could play into Hearts' hands. "Does that then suit Hearts to then try hit them on the counter attack with the likes of Pierre Landry Kabore that will no doubt come off the bench with his pace towards the end?"

For Rangers fans, Monday's clash at Tynecastle promises to be a fascinating, high-stakes affair—one where every pass, tackle, and decision could define their season. As Halliday sums it up: "It's going to be a fascinating game, but without doubt it's one that Rangers have to win to stay in this race."