A week on from the Old Firm game and I’d think most Rangers fans will have got over the disappointment of the loss.

Be honest, it was expected even if for a small spell it looked as if a minor miracle could happen.

Right now, most supporters will be looking to see how Dave King, the board and Mark Warburton rectify the deficiencies in the current Rangers team, because after last weekend, they were visible for all to see.

For me, the biggest problem right now is that the spine of the team – through the central defenders, midfield and in to the attackers – just isn’t strong enough.

I've thought it for a while, but Rangers have too many players who are much of a muchness in certain areas; Mark Warburton can make changes, but he is swapping like with like.

Unfortunately, that has proven not to be good enough, particularly in three games against Celtic.

I think the loan system could work for Rangers, because being honest, what Rangers need is to do is strengthen their hand for the remainder of this season, rather than long-term signings.

If they come along, great. But I always consider January as a time when you bolster your pool to see you through to the prizes in May, rather than piecing together parts of a squad for the following season and beyond.

But this January is crucial to Rangers and Mark Warburton.

After all - and Dave King has said it - the minimum for the club in their first season back in the top flight is for Rangers to finish second in the table.

However, after losing to Celtic, and only drawing with St Johnstone, Aberdeen are now looking ominous, in third, just a few points behind but with a game in hand.

If they win that match, the pressure is heaped straight back on Rangers and that chase to be the best of the rest.

Second place suddenly looks a big ask again. And for me, for that to happen, they’ll need some new personnel because there are still failing at key moments in matches, even in the Celtic game, and that is costing them.

For 30 minutes, even neutrals had to be impressed with the fight, commitment and application that Warburton’s team showed.

Who knows, and it is only speculation, but had Rangers gone in at the break a goal ahead, things might have been different.

Similarly, had Kenny Miller – outstanding throughout for me – put a second away, rather than hitting the post, again the outcome might have changed.

As it was, Rangers were punished by some clinical finishing, but ultimately, only had themselves to blame for the goals they conceded.

When pressure was applied, they were far too easily exploited.

Mark Warburton and David Weir would have hammered it into them the jobs the defenders should be doing at set pieces and corners, and who they should be picking up

But when they were tested, the instructions went out the window and Celtic scored. The second goal was another example of ball watching. It must be frustrating seeing the same daft mistakes being made time and time again. I reckon eight or nine times out of ten, someone’s blunder ends with the ball in the back of the Gers net.

For me, the only way to eradicate those errors is by shaking up the available squad.

If the centre-backs remain the start of most problems, Rangers could also be doing with adding some dig and bite to the midfield.

A central defensive midfielder, one with some presence, would certainly take some of the pressure off the back four and especially the centre halves.

A ball playing one would be even better, because while Mark Warburton wants to play the ball out from the back, none of the Rangers central defenders look particularly comfortable in that role.

Plan A, in August would have been for Joey Barton to take on that gig. But that didn’t work out, and there has been no Plan B.

Time to put that right, as it does, with having a few more visible leaders on the pitch. They can’t always rely on Lee Wallace, who to be fair, leads by example more than remonstrating and shouting at folk.

But maybe that is what is needed.

When I played, John Greig was the captain for much of my career. But the likes of Sandy Jardine and Alex MacDonald were also very vocal in letting you know what job you should be doing.

It’s not just the captain to give leadership; there should be others who step up to the mark, and that hasn’t been happening.

And lastly, we can’t avoid the fact that Rangers are lacking goals. Yet another striker?

To be honest, it would go amiss. If you can’t be trusted to defend, you need to score twice as many yourself for one is never enough – look at Perth and Hogmanay to confirm that.

If that seems like a lot of new faces, then so be it. For the consequences of not finishing second could mean a few red ones …