SEVEN games in, Rangers are seven points adrift and seventh in the standings. It is not the form of potential champions, never mind that of a team that wants to be highly competitive.

Mark Warburton insists it will take time for his side to get up to speed, but they have never looked like hitting top gear this term. By the time the Gers get motoring, they could be trailing in Celtic’s dust as their Old Firm foes pull away towards six-in-a-row.

The draws with Hamilton, Kilmarnock and Ross County were damaging for Rangers and Warburton, but the two defeats against their biggest rivals will hurt more.

Read more: Mark Warburton: Rangers deserved to win at Pittodrie and we are making progressGlasgow Times:

The performance against Aberdeen may have been an improvement on some that they have served up so far this season but Rangers had nothing to show for their efforts at Pittodrie. Warburton will look for positives, but they are far outweighed by the negatives at present.

A second half penalty from Andy Halliday could have given Rangers a platform to build upon and it could have been a moment to kick-start their season. Instead, it was the Dons fans who celebrated as James Maddison secured a 2-1 win for Derek McInnes’ side in dramatic circumstances.

Read more: Mark Warburton: Rangers deserved to win at Pittodrie and we are making progress

It was a rare moment of quality in an encounter that was eagerly anticipated but didn’t live up to the billing. A rivalry was resumed and it is Aberdeen who have the bragging rights.

Warburton expressed his sadness and bemusement at the animosity between these clubs in the build-up and the tension was ramped up even before the players made their way out of their tunnel.

Banners that read ‘1872-2012’ and ‘2012-???’ were hung on the motorway bridges on the approach to Aberdeen for the Light Blue legions to see as they made their way north.

Unfortunately, the Gers were greeted with far more sinister messages when they started out on the journey to the stadium as ‘Ibrox 71’ and ‘Durrant dived’ were keyed into the side of the team bus.

It all made for an intense, crackling atmosphere as the players emerged into the sunshine. Five years on from their last meeting, hostilities were resumed in the Granite City.

On the park, it was frantic and end-to-end but a lack of quality from both teams in the final third ensured that it was goalless at the break. Warburton would certainly have been content with his side, though.

Rangers didn’t move the ball with the speed and precision that Warburton strives for but they still carved out a series of openings. Joe Garner passed up the first as his header was blocked and the striker was booked just minutes later for a rash challenge on Jonny Hayes.

He would see another effort saved by keeper Joe Lewis after a James Tavernier free-kick struck the Dons wall. Rangers needed to keep possession and be more patient with their build-up but the signs were encouraging for Warburton at that stage.

Wes Foderingham produced a smart save to deny Kenny McLean but it was Rangers who were on top and the Englishman’s opposite number was far busier.

Lewis could only watch on as Barrie McKay jinxed beyond Shay Logan and curled a shot just over the bar and it wasn’t the last near miss for Rangers as they ended the half strongly. Garner was denied at the far post before he and Jason Holt spurned decent chances inside the area.

Within seconds of the restart, the misses were proven to be costly. The Dons fans were barely back in their seats after the interval and they were out of them again to celebrate.

Hayes showed his pace and composure as he burst clear and slotted the ball beyond Foderingham but Rangers once again caused their own problems as they failed to deal with a long ball forward and flick-on in the middle of the park.

Martyn Waghorn headed just wide and Wallace had an attempt from distance as Rangers looked for an immediate response. When Waghorn saw a header go just wide from Halliday’s free-kick and then he blasted the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out, it began to look like it wasn’t going to be Warburton’s day.

The Gers boss introduced Niko Kranjcar, Michael O’Halloran and then Kenny Miller in the hope that one of them had brought their shooting boots to Pittodrie. It was Halliday who finally found the net, though.

Read more: Mark Warburton: Rangers deserved to win at Pittodrie and we are making progress

Hayes went from hero to villain for Aberdeen as he fouled Wallace and referee John Beaton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. It was a cool finish from Halliday but there was no celebration as he went to collect the ball so that Rangers could go in search of a winner.

The decisive goal did come, but not for Warburton’s side. The Gers boss was rightly furious about the foul from Tavernier on Hayes but he surely had to appreciate the execution of the free-kick from Maddison as he curled the ball into the top corner.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match, and unfortunately for Warburton a strike that denied the Gers the draw they deserved.

Now, with just nine points on the board, the pressure is on the Ibrox boss. He was pleased with the performance, but it must come with rewards.

Whether they are to be highly competitive or title challengers, the improvement must come soon for Rangers. It is imperative for the team and the club, and certainly so for Warburton.