RANGERS are two down with six to play.

Ally McCoist's side haven't even picked up a half from their toughest matches this season but remain on course to be in the mix come the turn for home.

Defeat to Hibernian on Monday night hurt their pride but it did not do irreparable damage to their title bid as they are still in the swing of things.

It was another warning sign that below-par standards, in the dugout and on the pitch, must improve quickly, however.

Four wins from seven games have taken them to second in the Championship standings.

It has been a decent run, but not decent enough. It is the form of title challengers, but not of flag winners.

McCoist's side have seen off the teams who have competed at this level for several seasons with relative ease but have fallen short against the two who, like them, are operating in unfamiliar surroundings.

Rangers have not overhauled Hearts since losing to the Jambos on the opening day of the second tier campaign and, after going down to the other Edinburgh side in the title race this week, they are now six points off the pace.

The maroon and green sides of the capital will return to Ibrox again before the end of the season and McCoist's side have still to make their first trips along the M8 on league duty for three years.

There are plenty of points to play for and games for Rangers to hit their stride this term.

But for a club who welcome the chase, they don't want to be playing catch-up.

"It's still early, but obviously we don't want to be in the position we are in now," Ibrox winger Fraser Aird said.

"We would have wanted to be tied with them (Hearts) or ahead of them at this point of the season.

"At the end of the day, it's two big games we have lost already this season at Ibrox and we have to look at that and improve.

"There will be points shipped all over. It will be a tough league for everyone.

"I don't think you can count on winning against any of the other teams because they are all going to be tough games.

"Even when we went to Alloa it was tough.

"We need to keep winning our games and let the other teams drop points."

Having completed the first two stages of The Journey with ease, Rangers are now setting out on the recovery.

Saturday's fixture with Livingston is their last before Raith head to Ibrox on October 18 and McCoist and his players will be well aware that they can't afford another slip-up.

The performance against Hibs was even worse than the result, with the boos from the stands followed by harsh words in the dressing room.

Aird said: "The fans know we can do so much better and they expect the best from a big club like this.

"We need to go out and prove to them on Saturday we are much better than that.

"I think there always [are words between players]. Obviously, the boys are disappointed. That's the only way of looking at it, there's no point in hiding because we were 3-0 down.

"Someone needs to look at it and stand up and take charge.

"It was a bad first half, with a better second half, but we need to do better.

"I can't remember the last time Rangers were 3-0 down at half-time, especially to a team we should be beating.

"Hibs aren't in a good place, but we knew they were going to come here and give their all because if they lost then I think that was them out of it.

"But we have to do better on Saturday."

The weekend can't come soon enough for Rangers as they look to right the wrongs, of which there were plenty.

Arnold Peralta's howler for the first goal, Steven Smith's lapse for the second and a comedy of errors for the third handed Hibs the points.

By the time Nicky Law netted in the second half, the damage had been done.

Aird said: "We lost poor goals and everyone knows that. The players were at fault for the goals and that's what happens in football.

"The hill was too high to climb, but at least we gave it a go in the second half and can take positives from it. But we definitely need to look at the start we made."

Like all Gers fans, Aird felt the pain of defeat but the Canadian kid was not to blame.

The writing was already on the wall for Rangers by the time he replaced Peralta.

Many were surprised the Honduran got the nod to start ahead of Aird in the first place, like Smith did on the left wing instead of David Templeton.

Yet the 19-year-old had no complaints about McCoist's controversial calls.

Aird said: "Everyone is disappointed when they don't play. I had two bad games previous to [Monday] and I really didn't deserve to be starting.

"I came on and gave it my all as I always do, but hopefully I can get back in the team as soon as possible."