RANGERS fans paid tribute to one former midfield idol and welcomed back a Light Blue legend at Ibrox on Saturday.

What they would give to be able to call upon a player with the class of Ray Wilkins or quality of Ian Ferguson this weekend.

The footage of Wilkins’ famous strike in the 5-1 Old Firm win two decades ago was shown on the big screens before a near 50,000 crowd fell silent to remember the Englishman following his tragic death at the age of just 61.

At half-time, all eyes again turned to the corners as a montage of Ferguson’s trophy-laden Gers career was shown on his return to Ibrox.

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The games and the goals would have brought back some emotional memories for those in the stands. Now they need a new Old Firm hero to emerge.

It was Graham Dorrans and Greg Docherty that filled the midfield berths for Graeme Murty’s side against Dundee and the boyhood Rangers fans would need little reminding about the stature, on and off the field, of Wilkins and Ferguson.

Dorrans may not have moved to Ibrox after spells with Chelsea, Manchester United and AC Milan.

And Docherty may not go on to enjoy the kind of silverware success that Ferguson did during his 12-year stint at Ibrox.

But both have a chance to follow in their respective footsteps and make a name for themselves on derby day when Murty’s side head to Hampden this weekend.

It is a partnership that is still very much in its infancy – the game against Dundee was just the second time they have played together – but their performances could be crucial to Rangers’ hopes of Scottish Cup success.

Having spent several months out of action with the ankle injury he sustained during Pedro Caixinha’s last game in charge, it is only natural that Dorrans will take time to get back up to full speed this term.

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He was steady, if unremarkable, in the draw with Motherwell as he made his return to the side and the 90 minutes he got at Ibrox will be another step forward for the 30-year-old.

After a poor first half showing, in which he was uncharacteristically sloppy in possession, Dorrans, like Rangers, improved after the break as Neil McCann’s side were beaten relatively comfortably in the end.

And it was his contribution for the fourth and final goal of the game that showed what the former West Brom and Norwich star is capable of, and highlighted what Rangers need to see more of.

The run from midfield and into the attacking third is one that he must make more often and he got his rewards as he collected a pass from Alfredo Morelos and set up Daniel Candeias to add a shine to the scoreline for Rangers.

By that stage, the game and the points had already been won. Kenny Miller broke Dundee’s resistance with a clinical finish in the first half, while the goals from Jamie Murphy and Alfredo Morelos capped off decent overall showings from the other two members of the front four.

It is in the middle of the park where Murty has issues to solve ahead of the Celtic game, though. His decisions could make or break Rangers’ chances of a much sought-after derby win.

The somewhat low-key performance from Docherty on Saturday could be attributed to the sickness bug that he was suffering from and the 21-year-old is undoubtedly capable of raising his game to a higher level.

His replacement on Saturday, Andy Halliday, certainly made the most of his chance to impress and he will now surely come into Murty’s Old Firm thinking.

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Rangers have found themselves outnumbered and outplayed in the middle of the park too often this term and a similar situation will lead to a familiar outcome against Celtic.

A more solid and structured central three would give the Gers a foundation upon which to build. It would also allow them to stifle some of Celtic’s most influential players.

Ross McCrorie is perhaps the ideal man for the job. His strength, pace and power, plus his passing ability, make him well suited to a deeper midfield berth.

But Murty must contemplate whether he is more effective in the middle of the park or at the back, where those qualities are just as important and contrast to what Russell Martin and Bruno Alves bring to the side.

It was a big call, but the right one, for McCrorie to replace the Portuguese on Saturday and the 20-year-old has to start at Hampden. It is a matter of where.

A change of shape and system is required for Rangers, even though that will remove the need for the playmaker role that Josh Windass has filled in recent weeks and that Miller started out in at the weekend.

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The Gers cannot afford to be outfought and out-thought in the middle of the park once again and it is in that area where the semi-final could be won or lost.

Having seemed to struggle with the speed and style of the game at Ibrox a few weeks ago, it would be a surprise to see Sean Goss recalled to the side, while Jason Holt, who could do a job in there, has missed the last two games.

The extra mobility and endeavour that McCrorie or Halliday bring to the team would surely assist Dorrans and Docherty and allow them to be more influential driving forward into the final third.

The decisions that Murty made, or didn’t make, during the Premiership defeat to Celtic were the main talking points after a 3-2 loss that has had a considerable impact on and off the park. Victory at Hampden would go some way to repairing that damage, though.

His fourth Old Firm fixture is Murty’s most significant to date. If he gets it wrong, it could prove to be his penultimate one.