MARK WARBURTON lost his first game at Ibrox as Rangers went down 1-0 to English Championship side Burnley.

After behind-closed-door clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Ayr United so far this summer, the Ibrox crowd were finally given a chance to see their side in action for the first time ahead of the new campaign.

Warburton handed starts to Wes Foderingham, James Tavernier, Rob Kiernan, Danny Wilson, Andy Halliday, Jason Holt and Martyn Waghorn for the Clarets clash in front of a crowd of 22,344.

Rangers spurned first-half chances as Waghorn, who joined from Wigan Athletic on Monday, headed wide and saw a shot saved by Scotland keeper Matt Gilks in the Burnley goal.

And it was Sean Dyche’s side who took the lead just after the half hour mark as former Falkirk midfielder Scott Arfield found the bottom corner after capitalising on an error from returning defender Wilson.

Just after the break, Holt scooped an effort over the bar after collecting a cutback from captain Lee Wallace as Rangers looked to find an equaliser.

Chances were scarce for the Light Blues, though, and soon there was a raft of changes as Fraser Aird took over from Tavernier at right-back, Darren McGregor joined Wilson at the heart of the defence and Kenny Miller and Nicky Clark were reunited in attack.

There were also appearances for Dean Shiels and Tom Walsh and a debut for Jordan Thompson in the middle of the park.

After Clark fired over following neat work by Law and Walsh, there was another change as Marius Zaliukas replaced Wilson.

There was to be no late leveller for Rangers as Warburton’s home bow ended in defeat, but more important challenges are on the horizon as they prepare for Saturday’s Petrofac Training Cup clash with Hibernian.