THERE aren't too many people who comprehend just what Mark Warburton has had to deal with in the first few months of a tumultuous season. Possibly not even Mark Warburton.

Coming in off the back of a Ladbrokes Championship title rampage and with the force of a William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final blowing in Rangers's sails, the wind has not just been taken away from them but, in the eyes of many of the club's supporters, completely off course of where they believe they should be heading.

In the bizarre world of the Old Firm where reality often goes out the window, the fact Celtic have cruised ahead in recent years with Rangers just re-emerging from the shadows will have done little to dampen the aspirations of some that the Ibrox club should be up there challenging for titles.

Read more: Alex McLeish: Joey Barton underestimated RangersGlasgow Times: Rangers manager Mark Warburton

Add to that the 5-1 demolition from Celtic and the 0-0 home draw with Ross County, the unconvincing nature of Rangers's play or the rammy with Joey Barton, the scenes of celebration in the west end of Hampden back in April seem a like an ever-fading memory.

Warburton has spoken in recent days about the perceived 'negativity' in the wake of that demolition at Parkhead, a game the Englishman claims was not lost by as big a margin as some believe as he attempted last week to hit back at what he believed was over the top criticism of him and his team.

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"I’ve walked in those shoes," Alex McLeish, the former Rangers manager said. "I’ve had success then a bit of failure and it hits you like a sledgehammer, and that’s what happened to Mark a couple of weeks ago.

"It’s not just the result. He’s seen the press, and he’s been battered. I phoned him and said ‘Welcome to the Old Firm’.

"You think you should get understanding, but you have to realise that’s the way it is. You think surely they must know this is not the same level, or that Dembele is on five times what my highest-paid player is on or whatever. But there is no rationale.

"I think Mark Warburton should be given time to settle into the league then gradually you would expect the investment would become a little bit better for him.

"Right now I’d not be expecting Rangers to be challenging Celtic for the title, and that they will be fighting it out with three other teams."

With all of this in mind, Rangers probably could be doing without a trip north this weekend to kickstart their season.

As they sit in fifth place with two wins from their first five league games, Warburton will take his team to Pittodrie to meet an Aberdeen team keen to prove a point.

For the last two years it has been Derek McInnes's side that have carried the can as challengers-in-chief for Celtic, a job they have progressively got better at with the passing of time. It is a fixture that McLeish has Aberdeen as firm favourites for, but knows only too well what good it could do for the visitors if they could get it right. on Sunday afternoon.

"Aberdeen are favourites. I think they’ve had the nucleus of a team who have played together for a long while now," added McLeish, who was promoting BT Sport's coverage of the Betfred Cup quarter-final between Aberdeen and St Johnstone tomorrow. "They’re a good team, they’re the home team – and it’s never easy for Rangers to come here.

""f Rangers need a result, then it’s definitely this one they could be doing with. But I see Aberdeen as favourites to win the game.

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"I think Mark Warburton should get the pressure taken off him a little bit.

"Having been the Rangers manager and walked in his shoes, I know the problem is that you’re expected to win, no matter who you’ve got on the pitch.

"If you haven’t quite got the quality as yet, the fans still expect you to in.

"Now, he might be happy that I’m saying I think Aberdeen should win. He can maybe use that in his dressing room.

"But, at the same time, I’m trying to take the pressure off him a wee bit."

BT Sport is your home of unmissable live football from the Betfred League Cup. Watch Aberdeen v St Johnstone on Thursday 22 September, exclusively live on BT Sport 1 from 7:15pm.