THERE is a first time for everything. Rangers are unlikely to find themselves in the situation they did on Saturday on a second occasion any time soon, though.

As goalless draws go, the Scottish Cup fifth round tie between Mark Warburton’s side and Kilmarnock certainly wasn’t a bad one. It is rare that a team has as significant a share of the possession, as many chances and spends as much time in the final third as Rangers did and are left with nothing to show for their efforts.

When these two meet again to decide who will finally take a place in the quarter-finals, both will have reasons to be optimistic after taking their positives from the Ibrox encounter.

If Rangers can turn in a similar level of performance at Rugby Park, there is every chance they will clinch victory against Premiership opposition at the third time of asking this term.

It should have been second time lucky on Saturday but they misfired in front of goal as a forward line that has been so reliable this term couldn’t deliver against a side that has conceded more often than any other in the top flight.

After 31 successive matches of hitting the target, Rangers couldn’t make it 32 on Saturday as they were left goalless for the first time on Warburton’s watch. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, though.

Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald may not have been under siege for 90 minutes but he always had to be alert as Rangers dominated the action and launched a series of attacking forays. The visitors stood firm, though, and even when MacDonald was beaten the score board remained untroubled, Danny Wilson’s header that hit the bar summing up Rangers’ fortunes on the day.

After successive 1-0 wins over Falkirk and Raith Rovers, the Light Blues couldn’t complete the hat-trick on Saturday. For once, the Ibrox crowd had nothing to cheer.

“We had some questions to prove today in terms of the physical threat they posed and in terms of dealing with the counter, which we did well,” Warburton said. “And then showing quality on the ball, which I thought we did as well.

“It was frustrating because there was a lot of good work going on. Barrie McKay was excellent, I thought Dom Ball in the centre of midfield was very good, and we created a lot of chances.

“The keeper pulled off a couple of good saves. It was just that final bit of quality that we needed.”

There may have been frustration at Ibrox on Saturday but there will be reasons to be optimistic at Murray Park in the coming days when Warburton and his side sit down to analyse the Killie clash.

So much of the focus regarding Rangers this season has centred on their attack instincts and the forward thinking formation that Warburton has introduced this term.

But a shift in the balance of their play and a slight change of approach has paid dividends at the other end of the park for the Gers as they have looked more assured and resolute defensively in recent weeks.

Kilmarnock were restricted to a couple of chances at Ibrox and Rangers coped well with the strength of Josh Magennis and speed of Greg Kiltie and Tope Obadeyi on the counter-attack.

It will require a similarly steely showing at Rugby Park to give Warburton’s side the best chance of progressing at the second time of asking. They will, of course, also have to be more clinical in the final third.

It is a combination Rangers are more than capable of, though, as they look to continue on the road to Hampden this season.

“There was never any lack of confidence about playing a top flight team,” Warburton said.

“The gap is not as it is down south, because of the financial climate. It is far closer and we showed that.

“We had some missed chances and I look forward to seeing the game again. We created a lot of chances, we had a lot of corners, and didn’t really maximise it.

“It was just that final bit of quality, a bit of random luck in the box, and on another day it falls our way.

“We have shown that we are a good team and if the luck does go our way then we will get the rewards.

“We will go there very respectful and aware of the threat they will pose but I think they will know they will be in for a game.”

No matter the outcome second time around, no matter whether Rangers advance or not, the result will take on greater significance than just a last eight berth for many. Yet it probably shouldn’t.

It will be seen as a gauge of where Warburton’s side are in relation to the Premiership, how ready they are to make the step up next season should they clinch the Championship crown this term.

But, like when the Gers were beaten by St Johnstone in the League Cup in October, one result shouldn’t alter the appearance of the bigger picture and one that makes largely pleasant viewing for fans and their manager.

There is no doubt that progress has been made in recent months and, with more arrivals set to come in the summer, Rangers will be stronger once again as they prepare for what they hope will be a shot at the top flight.

Victory at Rugby Park, therefore, is not important in terms of next season. It could be the next step in making the current campaign an even more memorable one for the Ibrox crowd, though.