THIS was much more like it for Rangers. After the disappointment and the defeat of Tuesday night, Mark Warburton and his players were able to celebrate once again yesterday.

The victory over Morton was as comfortable as it was deserved and the manner of it will be pleasing for the Gers boss as his side returned to winning ways.

There may not have been the same spotlight on Rangers at Cappielow as there was against St Johnstone in midweek, but the 90 minutes were just as important, if not more so, as the Light Blues took another step towards a Premiership return.

After seeing Falkirk and Hibernian falter against Queen of the South and St Mirren respectively on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, Rangers made sure they didn’t make the same mistake here.

The victory – Rangers’ twelfth of the campaign – means the Light Blues are now nine points clear of the second placed Bairns in the Championship standings and already getting too far out of sight for the chasing pack to realistically reel in.

Rangers arrived in Greenock looking to not just win, but to perform. After a League Cup blip, they couldn’t afford a Championship slip. It never looked likely, though, as they eased to a 4-0 win.

Morton were in high spirits after their extra time triumph over Motherwell on cup duty, but this proved an altogether different challenge for the Ton. There would be no second successive shock for Jim Duffy’s side.

Three goals in the first half did the damage as Martyn Waghorn netted twice and James Tavernier added another to his tally to ensure Rangers were well on their way to an eighth Championship success.

Waghorn completed his hat-trick late on as he moved to 14 goals for the season already. It is a significant and impressive return, and Warburton is confident there is still plenty more to come from the 25-year-old.

As he examined the loss to St Johnstone, his first as Gers manager, this week, Warburton vowed to stick by the blue print that had seen Rangers win their first eleven games of the campaign before the Saints brought their march to a halt.

There had been criticism and comment from outside observers, but there was never any chance of Warburton going back to the drawing board. When Rangers have made the kind of progress they have in just three months, there was no need to.

He stuck by the much talked about defensive partnership of Danny Wilson and Rob Kiernan for the Ton test, and kept faith with the remainder of the side – Kenny Miller apart as he was replaced by Barrie McKay – for the return to league business.

The Ibrox boss was rewarded with points and a performance as his side bounced back at the first attempt and showed that a recent sticky spell could now be behind them.

After Jason Holt and Gedion Zelalem were denied in the opening stages, Rangers took a 13th minute lead as Waghorn converted from the penalty spot once again, the striker making no mistake from twelve yards following a Ross Forbes foul on Nathan Oduwa.

It was the perfect start for Rangers and it soon got better as Waghorn netted again. It was another good finish from the former Wigan man as he collected a McKay pass and twisted and turned in the area before finding the far corner of Derek Gaston’s net with a sweet strike.

The mission was already becoming impossible for Morton. Rangers were in the mood and swarming forward at every opportunity, Zelalem pulling the strings in the middle of the park and Oduwa proving a constant threat as he jinked his way down the flank and into the area.

The duo, on loan from Arsenal and Tottenham respectively, combined to present McKay with a chance at the back post that he couldn’t take, while Waghorn had another effort saved.

When Tavernier netted his eighth goal of the campaign, finishing off a lovely move that saw McKay feed Zelalem and the Gunners kid split the Morton defence, the points were secured for Rangers.

There were chances late in the half for the hosts, Wes Foderingham pulling off a superb double save from Michael Tidser and Denny Johnstone and Alex Samuel fluffing his lines from six yards.

Rangers survived and they would then see it out. With the goals on the score board and the points all but in the bag, the second half became a case of game management.

Warburton’s side still had chances, though, Andy Halliday’s free-kick saved by Gaston before the keeper plucked a Kenny Miller effort out of the air as it headed for the top corner.

It was Morton who had to pile forward, boss Duffy introducing Stefan McCluskey and Peter MacDonald and then Romario Sabajo as he looked to spark a dramatic fightback.

It never looked on the cards, though. Instead, the win that had been for some time was confirmed as Warburton’s side extended their lead.

It was job done for Rangers and there was another reason to celebrate for Waghorn, the striker completing his hat-trick with a neat finish at the back post with just minutes remaining.

A week that saw Warburton suffer his first defeat, and then question those who questioned his side, ended in familiar fashion. Normal service was resumed.