ROB Kiernan today insisted Rangers are ready for their opening competitive fixture of the season despite losing their final pre-season friendly 1-0 to Burnley at Ibrox last night.

The centre half was one of six new signings who kicked off the game for Mark Warburton’s side in the meeting with the English Championship club.

The £200,000 close season signing was joined by Wes Foderingham, Andy Halliday, James Tavernier, Martyn Waghorn and Danny Wilson in the starting line-up.

Jordan Thompson came on in the second half as one of eight replacements Warburton, who was taking charge of his first game at the Govan ground, made after an hour.

Jason Holt, the former Hearts midfielder who is expected to put pen to paper on a full-time contract this week, also started as a trialist.

Kiernan was unable to prevent former Falkirk midfielder Scott Arfield from scoring and the Ladbrokes Championship club from slumping to a 1-0 defeat.

However, the 24-year-old believes there were plenty of encouraging signs for the Glasgow club ahead of their Petrofac Training Cup first round match against Ladbrokes Championship rivls Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday.

Speaking to Rangers TV, he said: “I thought we dominated the first half hour or so. We moved the ball really well and played really well. If we had nicked a goal it might have changed the game a little bit.

“I was disappointed with the goal that we conceded obviously, but there were really good positives to come out of it. That is the first time that some of us have played at the stadium. It was a big pitch.

“So, yeah, I’m not going to get too disheartened by it. We will be ready for Saturday.”

Kiernan added: “We knew they would be good players. They played in the Premier League in England last season. Sean Dyche organises them really well. They got behind the ball and made it difficult for us.

“But we played well and for the first half an hour we dominated. After that it levelled out a little bit. They had chances and we had chances. I think there’s a lot of positives to come out of it.”

Kiernan, who spent a loan spell in Scotland with Kilmarnock at the beginning of his career, was stunned that over 22,000 fans turned out for a pre-season friendly.

And he believes that sort of backing can help drive the Light Blues on in the Championship this season as they try to win promotion to the top flight of Scottish football.

The Englishman said: “We have never really experienced that. For some of us, 22,000 is a big crowd. That’s a sell-out crowd. To get that at a friendly game is incredible.

“It was brilliant. Walking out of that tunnel was something I have never experienced before. I have walked out of a lot of tunnels across the country, but that was amazing. It was something I will probably never forget.

“It just shows the support you get here. It shows that everyone is in it together. Everyone got a positive feeling about it. I’m looking forward to the Hibs game on Saturday. We are ready for it.”