MARK WARBURTON hopes Rangers can keep the big crowds coming back to Ibrox as he prepares for his first league game in charge tomorrow night.

The Ladbrokes Championship opener against St Mirren is heading for a sell-out as the Light Blues look to get their title bid off to a winning start after cup successes against Hibernian and Peterhead.

The opening weeks of the Warburton era have given fans a much-needed shot in the arm after years of strife at Ibrox, and the 52-year-old is determined to give them plenty to shout about.

Warburton said: “It’s testimony to the work the players have done against Burnley, Hibs and Peterhead that the crowds are coming. That’s the message to the players – just keep on doing it.

“We keep saying it: if we can keep sending them home happy then they’ll keep filling out Ibrox and that’s got to be our aim.

“The paying supporter wants to see their money well spent and wants to enjoy himself or herself. That’s our job.

“Whether you think football is a business or an entertainment industry, be the best you can be and put on a show every time we play. If the supporters enjoy coming to see their team play, we’ll be okay.

“That’s the same for every team in the league. That’s the job – make sure the fans enjoy seeing the team play.”

Rangers eased to a 3-0 win over Peterhead in Warburton’s first competitive home game on Sunday as they booked their place in the League Cup second round.

There was a spontaneous roar of approval from the Ibrox crowd towards the end of the game as Rangers piled forward and Warburton was delighted with the rousing reception.

He said: “We picked up on that immediately. It was the first point we made to the players in the dressing room after the game.

“We were 3-0 up and missed a chance to make it four when that happened. It was a tremendous noise from over 20,000 people.

“Our aim now is to fill the stadium and get that noise doubled, and send them home happy.”

The performances of some of Warburton’s summer signings have been a particular source of encouragement for supporters in recent weeks.

The Gers boss remains in the market for further reinforcements before the end of the transfer window, but there could be exits for some of his Murray Park kids.

He said: “Possibly, the loan market is important to us both ways. Young players have to play football.

“There seems to be a lot of kudos to sitting on the bench at some clubs – playing five minutes one game, not playing the next two, then playing eight minutes the next.

“But you are not developing as a player that way. All that happens is that when you do get your chance eight weeks down the road, you are not match-fit.

“Our job is to make sure the young players continue their development by going out to play football.”