MARK WARBURTON wants to send them home happy. Rangers fans are far from pleased at present, though.

The howls and heckles that rung around Ibrox on Saturday left Warburton and his players in no doubt about the mood of the supporters in the stands.

Just days after crashing to a 4-1 defeat at Tynecastle, Rangers returned to home soil and once again failed to live up to the expectations of the Light Blue legions.

Another two points were squandered as second place in the Premiership was lost. The stalemate with Ross County was another damaging blow for Rangers and boss Warburton.

Read more: Rangers defender Clint Hill targets Scottish Cup success this season

In a campaign of many lows and few highs, the one constant has been the backing that the Gers have received on the terraces at Ibrox and on the road.

It was a different story three decades ago as John Greig’s side struggled to clinch the title that the supporters craved. The fans voted with their feet and crowds were nothing like they were during more successful times on the park.

This term, punters have continued to turn out in their numbers to back Warburton’s side, and former defender Ally Dawson hopes Rangers can repay their loyalty in the coming weeks.

“The one thing that kept John going was his playing career and that gave him a bit of time to turn it around,” he said.

“It was an accumulation of a number of things. One or two of the senior players were getting older and moved on and he was trying to bring players in when he didn’t get the money to spend that other people did.

“It is very difficult for a player when the supporters are upset with the team and I had it for spells myself when I wasn’t right. I knew myself I should have been playing a lot better but whenever you are picked you always give 100 per cent.

Read more: Rangers defender Clint Hill targets Scottish Cup success this season

“That is something that is demanded and the supporters can then see that at least you are trying to change things.

“It is disappointing to see how it is going. There is no consistency and we are amongst the other teams rather than being closer to Celtic.

“That is how the supporters will gauge things on going forward so they have to put the last week behind him and have a positive end to the season.”

The manner of the defeat was just as tough to take as the 4-1 score line against Hearts last week, while the reaction at the weekend was far from what the Ibrox crowd were expecting.

Rangers welcome Morton on Sunday aiming to avoid a Scottish Cup shock and are in urgent need of a performance as well as a victory.

That 1983/84 campaign, both before and after Greg was replaced by the returning Jock Wallace in October, saw the Light Blues play in front of crowds that were well below capacity.

Warburton’s side are still being backed in large numbers and the weight of expectation is a considerable one at Ibrox.

Read more: Rangers defender Clint Hill targets Scottish Cup success this season

Dawson said: “The one thing you can do is change the mood of the fans with one goal or one result. You can get a lift and it lifts the spirits.

“As the crowds diminish, you can hear more individual comments. You have got to try and shut it out and try and play your game.

“You can’t afford to hide, you have to go out there and want to get on the ball and help your team-mates.

“People will raise their game against Rangers and they know that if they can keep it tight then it will frustrate the supporters.

“The players have to have belief in themselves and those around them and hopefully they will get the crowd behind them again.

“Two or three good results will make everyone a bit more positive and hopefully they can move away from what has happened recently. It can change quickly.”

The Ibrox squad may be under pressure to perform but it is boss Warburton who will carry the can if performances and results don’t improve.

Scottish Cup success would be a welcome boost this weekend but it is the race to be best of the rest in the top flight that Rangers must win.

If the pressure on Warburton is to be eased, the Englishman needs his players to step up and deliver sooner rather than later.

He said: “It will depend on how the manager deals with the situation and manages the situation. He speaks well and comes over well and he has a belief in his players.

Read more: Rangers defender Clint Hill targets Scottish Cup success this season

“This is not a short-term fix and it will take a bit of time, and that is unfortunate.

“No disrespect to the players, but he has got players who are not used to being in the situation that they are in.

“They have been at smaller teams and it is not the same as being at Rangers. At other clubs, you might get five or six games to get over things but at Rangers you have to hit the ground running.

“The demands are there and the expectations are there and the players have to realise that.

“Hopefully they can get back to winning ways. Even if the performances aren’t great, they need to put some wins together and get some momentum. Then the play will improve.

“You can get into a losing habit just as you can get into a winning habit and Rangers need to start winning games again. They can still get second place and things can change very quickly for them.”