THIS was a game of two halves, a Jekyll and Hyde performance as Rangers showed the good and the bad to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
It once again came late, but, like the previous weekend against Dundee, the wait proved worth it for Mark Warburton.
Come the end of the campaign, the six points earned at Ibrox and Firhill could be crucial for Rangers and Warburton could look back at these outings as defining ones in the season.
The Gers have got the rewards for their never-say-die attitude in the last fortnight but the satisfaction earned from two dramatic wins should not mask the concerns over the deficiencies that put them in those situations in the first place.
It took a Harry Forrester header to finally overcome Paul Hartley’s side on home soil as Rangers’ persistence paid off and the home crowd were sent home relieved.
On that day, Warburton and his players were seconds away from hearing an Ibrox roar that they didn’t want to listen to. They avoided friendly fire from the stands, but only just.
If Joe Dodoo had not come to Rangers’ rescue against Partick Thistle on Saturday, the emotions come full time would have been far different to the scenes of celebration that were witnessed in the Glasgow sunshine.
The game ended in dramatic fashion but for most of the afternoon it was all rather low-key as the Jags fended off a Rangers attack that packed little punch.
Their approach was familiar, perhaps even too predictable, as the ball was shuttled around with little purpose, precision or tempo.
It allowed Thistle to press high up the park and put pressure on the Gers back four as they looked to play out from the back, with keeper Wes Foderingham often becoming the out ball as Rangers had to regroup and look to go again.
There was nothing to excite the travelling Light Blues support, few occasions where Rangers operated with any spark. At half-time, it just wasn’t good enough.
The improvement after the break was clear but further progress is required as attentions turn to the fixtures with Hearts and Aberdeen.
There was more intent to Rangers’ play but the handful of chances that were carved out were once again passed up as the clock ticked down and the frustration grew.
For all the possession Rangers have in matches, there is too often little end product and the lack of cutting edge is an issue that must be addressed if the fight for second isn’t to become a slog towards the final bell.
In their 14 Premiership outings, Rangers have scored just 19 times. Their most recent two were crucial for the manager and the man that netted them, however.
Having once again conceded a soft goal as they failed to clear their lines from a cross and Kris Doolan prodded the ball beyond Foderingham, Rangers needed some inspiration.
It was a moment of magic from Dodoo that was the trigger for the recovery, while a cool and composed finish sparked the celebrations.
The striker has only shown glimpses of his ability and his potential since making the move from Leicester City in the summer and he will hope that he now has a foundation upon which to build at Ibrox as he looks for a regular run in the side.
Boss Warburton has plenty of options in the final third and the mixing and matching will need to continue until Rangers find their shooting boots.
His philosophy is built on his side being dominant in possession and constantly pressing and probing at defences but there has not enough imagination or creativity evident this term and Rangers have been more lacklustre than swashbuckling.
The arrival of 11 players in the summer meant that time was always going to be needed for Rangers to click this term but results had to be picked up while that process was ongoing. Fans are now right to expect to see a more complete product, though.
The damage to their Premiership bid was self-inflicted in the opening weeks of the campaign and they now find themselves scrapping it out with Aberdeen and Hearts rather than tussling for the title with Celtic.
Their Old Firm rivals may be some way in the distance but the gap to Brendan Rodgers’ side remains as important as the lead they hope to build over the teams that are now behind them in the standings.
The late wins in their last two outings were significant for both causes and were small steps in the right direction. Rangers now need to show they are capable of taking strides forward in the Premiership.
If they could earn a third successive league win at Tynecastle on Wednesday and then follow it up with home triumphs over the Dons and Jambos, the picture would make far more pleasant viewing for Warburton in the run-up to Christmas. But further stumbles would not be a surprise.
More dropped points will add further weight to the pressure on Warburton’s shoulders and put the spotlight back on his players that have not performed to the level expected so far.
Events in the coming days will determine whether there will be festive cheer for those in Light Blue this year or if it will be a winter of discontent at Ibrox.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here