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HEARTS IN MOUTHS

Back in September, when the Rangers website revealed the club “were thrilled to announce” the signing of a Portuguese striker from Everton for £8m, the reaction from fans could only have been more downbeat if the player in question had been Beto. On Reddit, one overwrought supporter described the deal to bring Youssef Chermiti to Ibrox as being “everything that is wrong with football”, noting that the 21-year-old had “rocked up” in Glasgow with nothing to show for his short time in the game except a £5,000 Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet and “teeth straight out of a designer dentist”. (At this point it is probably also worth noting that Football Daily has been knocking around since before Youssef was even a mischievous gleam in his father’s eye and has achieved so little that we’d never even heard of the high-end jewellers until we read the disparaging post in question.)

Before Sunday, apart from scoring twice in a win over Celtic in January, Chermiti had done little to justify what, by fitba standards, is an enormous price tag and has recently underwhelmed to such an extent that many Rangers fans felt he shouldn’t have been let within an ass’s roar of the pitch for the visit of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts. Luckily for them, head coach Danny Röhl knew better and Chermiti left the field threatening to blind his many detractors with the glare from his pearly whites after scoring a crucial hat-trick to help Rangers come from behind to beat the Jambos 4-2. “Let’s not speak until the end of the season about the mentality of this group,” roared Röhl, before speaking about his group’s mentality. “Because we have a lot of mentality. We fully deserved over 90 minutes to win, we gave them two presents today.”

Rangers could ill-afford to be in overly generous mood during this top-of-the-table clash, as defeat would have left them eight points behind Hearts, instead of the two that now separate the sides. Before kick-off, third-placed Celtic had further ramped up the pressure on both their title rivals by coming from two goals down (the first scored and the second created by the nephew of Cat from Red Dwarf) at Kilmarnock to win courtesy of a late, late strike from Julián Araujo in the eighth minute of added time. The Mexican international celebrated his goal by making the – some would say – ill-advised decision to hurdle the advertising hoarding and join the delirious Celtic fans enjoying the full “limbs” experience behind the goal. Mercifully, Araujo lived to tell the tale and was doing so in an interview with Celtic TV when his head coach Martin O’Neill interrupted to disabuse him of any notions he might be getting above his station by pointing out how rubbish he’d been in the first half.

While the FA Cup south of the border served up a menu of pure meat-and-potatoes, the much-maligned Premiership was busy mainlining pure drama. Sunday’s various nerve-shredders mean we are officially staring down the barrel of a genuine three-way title race – the likes of which hasn’t been seen for 40 years. Back then, Celtic, Hearts, and Dundee United all hurtled toward a final-day shootout that ended with Celtic hoisting the trophy on goal difference. Because, as several traumatised Jambos will tell you, when it comes to Scotland, the scriptwriters usually suffer a failure of imagination and give the trophy to one of the usual Glaswegian suspects. Of course, having already taken 11 points from the three teams above them in the table, Motherwell could yet crash the party and give an already fascinating tale of the unexpected a late and even more surreal twist.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

Join Niall McVeigh from 6.30pm GMT for FA Cup fifth-round draw updates, before Xaymaca Awoyungbo takes the reins for minute-by-minute news from Macclesfield 0-3 Brentford at 7.30pm.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Now my life is quite simple. I’m a dad of five. In this moment, I’m more of a taxi driver than a football player, but it’s OK” – Eden Hazard gets his entertaining chat on with Emanuele Giulianelli, talking family, retirement, wine and some famous spats with José Mourinho.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Along with 1,057 others, I was somewhat nonplussed at the appointment of Igor Tudor as Spurs’ newest ex-manager. Bearing in mind Chelsea’s success raiding the Steve Bruce coaching tree at Hull City with Liam Rosenior, I had thought Spurs may exploit their shared DNA, and have a punt on Tom Huddlestone (formerly coaching at Wigan and England U-21s, currently with Birmingham). Although knowing the board, they’d probably sign Tom Hiddleston instead … who I’m sure would be great, but sadly only available for night games” – Adrian Harper (and no others).

It was fascinating to read Nicky Bandini’s piece on the new interim coach of Spurs, entitled ‘Ferryman Igor Tudor has the record to steer Tottenham to safety’. I am reminded of a tale from the Greek myths of another ferryman. He was Charon, who transported the souls of the dead across the River Styx to the underworld. Given Tottenham’s likeness for changing managers and coaches, I wonder if Tudor will stay the course or end up in Hades before the end of his tenure” – Desmond Wheway.

How disappointing that Kilmarnock’s Tyreece John-Jules is a striker and not a keeper, with the nickname ‘Cat’ his for the taking” – Petersen Todhunter.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Desmond Wheway. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.

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THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY

We didn’t get far, what with Port Vale’s fourth-round tie at home to Bristol City falling by the weather wayside just as we were in the process of sending Friday’s edition. They’ll meet on 3 March, meaning both are in the hat for round five.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Feeling the heat in England’s north west … Scott Parker, fresh off a new low in a season of them for Burnley with their FA Cup exit at home to Mansfield Town. “The game should be practically out of sight first half, we missed glorious opportunities,” he parped. “Second half, really poor. We started poor, gave them something to hold on to and from that point never really affected anything.”

Lucas Perri’s best-laid penalty shootout plans fell flat when he found that Birmingham’s retro kit didn’t include numbers on the shorts during their FA Cup clash. The Leeds keeper, using old-fashioned instinct, saved a vital kick from Tommy Doyle before Patrick Roberts lumped one over. “I am happy to help the club,” he cheered.

Also in the hat for the last 16: Liverpool, Newcastle, Wolves, Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester City, West Ham, Chelsea, Wrexham, Norwich, Southampton and Fulham.

In total, the magic of the FA Cup has seen participating teams make 183 selection changes from their previous league matches … so far.

Ref rage latest: Serie A’s referee designator Gianluca Rocchi says match official Federico La Penna was “clearly wrong” in showing Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu a second yellow card during Saturday’s loss at Inter. “Something completely unacceptable happened today,” wailed Juve suit Giorgio Chiellini.

Chelsea have capped a tumultuous week by beating Liverpool 2-0 in the WSL. “It was emotional for everyone,” declared Sonia Bompastor. Leaders Manchester City crushed Leicester 6-0, Spurs hammered Aston Villa 7-3 and Arsenal’s game at Crawley Brighton was rained off.

James Trafford was signed to be Manchester City’s No 1. Then came Gianluigi Donnarumma, so the Englishman could be looking for a move.

Vítor Pereira is the latest man in at the City Ground. “Nottingham Forest is delighted to confirm that [he] has been appointed as head coach on an 18-month deal,” roared a hopeful club statement.

And Gary Caldwell has done one from Exeter City to take over as the new manager at League One rivals Wigan Athletic.

STILL WANT MORE?

Come get your 10 talking points from the FA Cup fourth round.

John Brewin walks down his own memory lane, through the streets of Macclesfield, before the Silkmen’s latest Cup shot.

Jonathan Wilson on Keith Andrews, pundit turned top, top manager, as Brentford seek wider horizons than winning at Macc.

There’s a big game in the Champo on Monday night. Repeat: a big game in the Champo. Coventry take on Middlesbrough, with Frank Lampard’s Cov on the slide and Boro on the rise. Harry Paterson tees it up.

Nicky Bandini has more on the red mist in Serie A.

Real Madrid return to Benfica in Bigger Cup playoffs. Will another miracle be on the cards, wonders Sid Lowe.

Lens are title contenders in Ligue 1 – even if their manager won’t admit it, writes Luke Entwistle.

We have WSL talking points fresh for your consumption.

And Suzanne Wrack visits Crossbar in Brighton, a place for women to feel comfortable watching all sport.

MEMORY LANE

As mentioned, Mansfield and Liverpool are through to the FA Cup fifth round, so here’s a look back to the last time they met in 2013, when even the local canine population got in on the half-and-half scarf scene. The Reds won 2-1, courtesy of some Luis Suárez controversy, you’ll be shocked to learn.

THREE MORE WEEKS. SIGH