GRAEME Murty described it as a reality check. In fact, Rangers’ home defeat to St Johnstone was anything but.

Four wins in a row, good wins as well if not always from good performances, told us that in fact some previously missing spirit existed within the squad and the interim manager had at least introduced organisation and even a bit of belief.

But nobody, well apart from those few who live on the fringes of reality, believed Rangers had suddenly become a good team. Was anyone really getting carried away?

Read more: Bruno Alves tells the Rangers players they must learn to cope with Ibrox pressure

Towards the end of last week, Murty reminded us all that Rangers weren’t in a title race, which is a bit like a 15-handicapper ruling himself out of the Masters.

Celtic aren’t over the hill, but they have the equipment to get to the top way ahead of the rest. This season for Rangers has always been about that second place and closing the gap. Both of which could well happen.

However, what must be kept in the mind is the standard of the playing squad at Ibrox.

John Hartson last week described many of Pedro Caixinha’s signings as duds. The big fella is hardly going to be sued for his comments.

What Rangers were, what they are, is a top six Scottish Premiership side who might finish second but could just as easily end up fourth.

Given the money they spent on transfers last summer and on the wages every month, they should be best of the rest at the very least. That they are not is a matter of public record and I’m not going to go over that again…honest.

But there are too many average players which Graeme Murty has to call upon and one or two at the weekend were simply not up to it.

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But before we get to that, something which cannot be ignores is how poor Rangers have been at Ibrox this season.

They have enjoyed one good league performance at home, against Aberdeen, and have lost to Hibernian, Celtic, Hamilton and now St Johnstone who were the best team by quite a distance in their 3-1 win. They also drew to Hearts who didn’t have a manager at the time.

Even last week, a 2-1 win over Ross County, Rangers weren’t any good and on Saturday apart from the goal, taken well by Alfredo Morelos and set-up by Ryan Jack, there was nothing there at all to enjoy for the fans, many of whom had left long before the final whistle.

Now, the atmosphere at Ibrox is poor, nobody disputes that, but the players do contribute to that and they were awful in this match. Some worse than others.

Daniel Candeias is a mistake. It’s as simple as that. He was hopeless, again, and before he was taken off after an hour, he actually got in the way of his team-mates.

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Eduardo Herrera, who reportedly is on £20,000 a week, has the mobility of a cupboard full of wet duffle coats. He only got the last 15 minutes. Carlos Pena was nowhere to be seen. Most people have forgotten Dalcio exists.

And as for Bruno Alves, it’s just not happened for him. The veteran Portuguese looks done. David Bates deserves to start before the marquee summer signing.

Alves has been a fantastic player, and comes across as a really decent man, but that is no use to Rangers in the here and now.

He was partly to blame for the first goal, his headed clearance reached the edge of the box and Blair Alston produced a fine finish for the equaliser.

And if Alves was brought in to organise at the back, how on earth did Denny Johnstone get a free header for the second? And then Graeme Cummins drilled his shot past Wes Foderingham, whose had better days, for a third which St Johnstone deserved while Rangers were all over the place.

“From what I remember of the goals, I don’t believe they were mistakes,” said Alves after the match.

“It was a good shot, a good header. Sometimes it is not just mistakes. Sometimes you need to value what the opponent did and the quality.

Read more: Bruno Alves tells the Rangers players they must learn to cope with Ibrox pressure

“I don’t believe they were mistakes, but we need to be more focused and try to be more away from our box and prevent the counter-attack. We are always attacking but we also need to prepare to defend when we lose the ball.”

Alves has a point to an extent. St Johnstone picked up all the second balls, they won all the battles and big Johnstone bullied the back four something awful. That, more than anything, would have worried Murty.

Rangers have picked up a lot of points in recent weeks, but any team in the Premiership can beat them. It’s not all doom and gloom.

Ross McCrorie really looks the part, but he needs help from his more senior players. Jack is suspended again which will be a miss, Declan John has something about him, while it will be interesting to see what Niko Krancjar can offer if he does get fit.

Alfredo Morelos is going along okay as well. He’s no Ally McCoist, but the guy can score goals if his team create chances.

The thing about Saturday was this. St Johnstone wanted it more and, at Ibrox, that’s unforgivable.

That can’t be put down to recruitment or the managerial situation. That desire has to come from within.

If anyone doesn't have that then they shouldn't be there.