IT is good to talk. When Mark Warburton has spoken, the Rangers fans, and his squad, have listened.

The messages have been encouraging, the delivery positive and informative as he has set his standards and laid out his vision for the future at Ibrox.

It has given supporters, weary and battle-scarred after three uninspiring years in Scotland’s lower leagues, a spring in their step and left them rejuvenated and refreshed ahead of another season in the Championship.

For the players, it has been an insight into Warburton’s ways, his methods and his ideologies, as he sets his sights not just on the second-tier title, but the very top of our game in the longer term.

There has been little to dampen the enthusiasm of everyone in Light Blue in recent weeks, but there was 40 minutes or so on Saturday that left the new manager decidedly unimpressed.

It meant Warburton’s satisfaction at a job well done, and praise for the players who got his reign off to an eye-catching start, was tempered slightly as he reflected on his first afternoon in the dugout.

Like the goals scored column when compared to those conceded, the positives far outweighed the negatives for Warburton, but his summary of the 6-2 victory over Hibernian told fans everything they needed to know about his mentality and desire for success.

Even after seeing James Tavernier curl a free-kick into the top corner from the edge of the area, Martyn Waghorn net his first two goals for the club, Andy Halliday cap another fine performance with a superb strike and Kenny Miller hit a brace after coming off the bench, there were areas of concern for Warburton.

The first half in the Capital was, for the Englishman, just not good enough as his side fell behind and failed to show the kind of style and work-rate he demands in every training session and every match.

This was not Warburton looking to put a dampener on the celebrations of supporters or cool their enthusiasm after they got a second look at his new-look side.

Instead, it was a measured assessment of an afternoon that ended in spectacular style, but one which didn’t start in the manner the 52-year-old expects.

“They are an honest group, it is a really honest group,” Warburton said.

“You can’t keep going to a group of players and say ‘tremendous, well done’ and pat them on the back. They know that was below the level and that is great.

“The work ethic has been very evident, their unity and harmony as a group of players has been really evident, but so has their honesty. They know that it was a four out of 10.”

Warburton’s view of a mixed day at the office was firm but fair, his delight at a much-improved performance after the break more than justified after a low-key opening 45 minutes.

It was still a first half that saw his side score twice, however, as Tavernier and Waghorn, signed last week from Wigan Athletic, opened their accounts in Light Blue as they cancelled out Sam Stanton’s strike for Hibs.

The goals came at just the right time for Rangers, as did Waghorn’s second just after the break and Halliday’s long-range curler shortly after Jason Cummings had netted from the spot.

The late double from Miller added the shine to an overall polished performance from Rangers and got Warburton off and running as boss in the Leith sunshine.

While Warburton’s side remain very much a work in progress, the signs are promising for Rangers at this early stage.

By the time these two teams meet again in Championship action next month, the bigger picture will be a lot clearer and the memories of this game faint.

There are more important battles to be fought, the first over the future of Scott Allan, in the coming months as Rangers and Hibs get set to battle it out for the second-tier title.

Where the build-up had focused on the man Warburton wants to sign, those that he has acquired thus far this summer have made positive first impressions, with right-back Tavernier and boyhood Light Blue Halliday arguably the stand-outs from the opening hours of action this term.

In many ways, this Petrofac Training Cup first-round tie was an ideal warm-up, and it is one Rangers have emerged from with much to ponder.

“I don’t want to under-estimate the result, it was a good result at a tough place to come,” Warburton said.

“They are high-quality opposition, we were well aware of the threat that Hibs did pose and will pose throughout the season.

“It is good to get that result, of course it is, and lay that marker down as they say.

“But we have got to learn and we have got to learn that the first half wasn’t good enough. It is as simple as that.”

With the first competitive 90 minutes, or ‘game four’ as Warburton referred to it in terms of his side’s preparations for the new campaign, now complete, attentions will turn to a very different type of test and the League Cup tie against Peterhead on Sunday.

The coming days will give Warburton time to iron out the issues, mainly defensive ones that saw Stanton afforded too much time to burst from midfield and pick his spot and that gave the travelling support the odd heart-in-mouth moment.

With the Ladbrokes Championship opener against St Mirren now less than a fortnight away, the work must continue for Rangers as they strive for further improvement.

Warburton will talk, his players will listen and the fans will judge for themselves as Rangers look to walk the walk and stride to success this season.