IT is a game of two halves. Rangers showed both sides of theirs on Tuesday night, the outcome a familiar and pleasing one for an Ibrox crowd that were sent home happy, if not completely satisfied.

The possession stats, the chances created and the goals scored didn’t tell the whole story yet again. They showed that Rangers more than deserved to beat Dumbarton, but didn’t give an insight into the struggle they had at times.

It has been a few weeks now since Mark Warburton’s side turned in a complete performance and have consistently been at the levels they set themselves in the opening stages of the campaign for an entire 90 minutes.

Glasgow Times: 01/12/15 LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP .  RANGERS v DUMBARTON .  IBROX - GLASGOW .  Rangers Manager Mark Warburton gives out instructions. (48132230)

They have shown what they are capable of in spells, the periods where they have made everything click into place allowing them to emerge victorious more often than not.

It was the same story against the Sons. In the first half, Rangers were far from their best, but in the second they showed the true gap to the side that are second bottom in the Championship.

There wasn’t exactly a chorus of boos around Ibrox at the end of the first period on Tuesday night but the home crowd were far from satisfied after a laboured showing from the Gers. Inside the home dressing room, the feelings were shared.

Come the end of the night, and after a Jason Holt header, strikes from Martyn Waghorn and Nathan Oduwa and an Andy Halliday penalty had clinched a 4-0 win, the emotions were far more pleasant for the Light Blues and their fans. It was the same for boss Warburton.

"Yes he was angry and it's probably a side that we've not seen from the gaffer to be honest,” Halliday said.

“And quite rightly so because the first half wasn't good enough. You look back after the game and there's not playing well, but you can still do the right things and I think for that reason is why we scored four goals in the second half.

Glasgow Times: Rangers' Jason Holt (centre) puts his side 1-0 up

“We weren't playing well, although we still had a lot of possession in terms of switching the play, but at the end of the day when you are playing on a big pitch like Ibrox and you have that amount of possession, then Dumbarton were always going to tire.

“But it's important when we are not playing well to still do the right things and I think that's why we managed to score four goals in the second half.

“There were a few words said at half time and rightly so because it wasn't good enough. We all knew what was at stake before the game - it was our game in hand and a chance to go three points clear at the top of the table.

“It was a big game for us and the performance in the first half wasn't good enough, but we managed to put it right in the second half."

The goals from Holt, a neat header from a James Tavernier cross, and Waghorn, a superb long-range strike, put the result beyond doubt at Ibrox before Oduwa netted his first for Rangers with just minutes remaining.

Glasgow Times: Rangers manager Mark Warburton

The feelings of frustration had already turned to ones of satisfaction for Halliday by that point, the job done for Rangers as they ensured they would move three points clear of Hibernian at the top of the table.

The lifelong Light Blue had another reason to celebrate, though, as he converted from the spot just yards from the house where he grew up supporting the Gers to get his first goal on home soil.

"The last time we spoke about me taking a penalty was Dumbarton away,” Halliday said.

“I actually thought about it when Martyn went off - I think it was 2-0 or 3-0 at the time - and I was thinking to myself 'I hope we get a penalty' because it's been a long time coming me getting my first goal at Ibrox and I was delighted I managed to tuck it away.

Glasgow Times: OUT TO MAKE HIS MARK: Andy Halliday (centre) is confident he will not be kissing goodbye to ambitious manager Mark Warburton

"It was very special for me. To be honest I felt pretty nervous before I took the penalty and I think that's why I put my foot through it.

“I just started to laugh about 20 seconds before the penalty, but I managed to stick it away and it was important because it was in front of the Copland Road Stand as well."

With another three points and four goals added to their tally, Rangers consolidated their first place in the Championship after a tricky few weeks.

The Sons clash was the first of five key outings this month, a run that will see Warburton’s side face Raith, Morton and Falkirk before the visit of Hibernian to Ibrox.

Glasgow Times: Rangers player Andy Halliday in training at Murray Park.

It is an important series of fixtures, but no more so than any other for a squad whose sights are fixed on the second tier crown.

Halliday said: "It is [a big month], but I feel that every month is a big month for us. Hibs are obviously on a really good run of form and they are right up our backsides just now.

“We just need to keep picking up the three points and that's all we can do.

“We are looking forward to playing them on the 28th and only then can we start worrying about Hibs' results."