ON a day when only a win would have been acceptable, this was a draw that felt like a defeat for Rangers. A point was picked up, but the focus was on the two that were dropped.

St Johnstone more than earned their share of the spoils and, come the end of a lacklustre and fairly uninspiring 90 minutes, Rangers were thankful that Tommy Wright’s side didn’t snatch the victory as Wes Foderingham and the woodwork denied the visitors.

The chance to move within touching distance of Celtic at the top of the Premiership was squandered by the Light Blues. It was an opportunity missed, and it was the lack of openings created that was at the heart of their problems.

Had Steven Gerrard, as was feared on Friday morning when he held his pre-match press conference, been without the services of Jermain Defoe and Kyle Lafferty through injury, then a shot-shy performance like the one his side produced the following day may have been more understandable.

There were no excuses for how insipid Rangers were in attack, though. The reasons for it must be found, and quickly, as attentions turn to the visit of Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening.

The starting line-up was shorn of four of its most regular names as Allan McGregor and Alfredo Morelos missed out through suspension and injury prevented Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield from taking their berths in midfield.

But this was a Gers side that should have been more than capable of getting the job done and ticking another win off as they looked to build some much-needed momentum. That has now been lost.

The lack of creativity and guile was alarming from Gerrard’s side, almost as much as the lackadaisical manner in which they went about their business.

Steven Davis offered virtually nothing from the middle of the park and his low-key start to his second spell at Ibrox has started to worry supporters that heralded his return to Rangers.

On the wings, Ryan Kent’s efforts didn’t pay dividends, while Daniel Candeias contributed little. Off the bench, Glenn Middleton couldn’t provide the spark and Lafferty needs more than a few minutes as a throw of the dice to try and find some form.

The Northern Irishman had a couple of chances following his introduction but that can’t be said for the man he joined through the middle as Defoe cut a lonesome and frustrated figure.

It was clear from the early stages that Rangers hadn’t adapted their style to suit the Englishman and, devoid of service, he had no real impact on the game. Defoe is a more than capable replacement for Morelos, but only if those around him play to his strengths.

“Yeah, big time,” Gerrard said when asked if other players had to step up in Morelos’ absence. “I felt for Jermain, balls are coming in to him in the air, his chest, there is no service.

“I never saw a slide pass, I never saw a decent cross come in, I never saw a decent combination. I never saw anything I had seen in the previous days.

“The easy thing for me to do, and the cop out, is to say ‘there is no Morelos, there is no Arfield, no Jack’.

“But I believe we picked a team and we have the squad available to beat St Johnstone, if we play at an acceptable level. But the level wasn’t acceptable.”

The bar was raised as Rangers hauled themselves into title contention with Old Firm victory in December but those heights have never been hit since. Now, defeat in the next derby in a few weeks’ time will surely extinguish any lingering Premiership ambitions.

The Scottish Cup has been Rangers’ best chance of silverware this term ever since they were knocked out of the Betfred Cup by Aberdeen. The Dons stand in their way again, but only if they can overcome Kilmarnock.

Steve Clarke’s side have become familiar foes for the Gers and a repeat of their performance from the weekend will surely be punished with an even worse outcome.

“It is big anyway,” Gerrard said. “The reality is, and where we are right now after today’s performance, is that it probably does become a bit bigger.

“But when you have got the chance to go into a quarter-final against Aberdeen, that should always be big, should always be exciting for a Rangers player. If it is not, maybe you are in the wrong place.”

Come full-time on Wednesday night, supporters will have a clearer understanding of what, if anything, Rangers have to play for in the final weeks of the campaign.

And Gerrard will no doubt learn a little bit more about his players as they attempt to recover from a damaging blow to keep their cup ambitions on track.

The return of Morelos will undoubtedly be a boost to their chances but those around the Colombian now have a point to prove to their manager and the supporters that booed them off the park on Saturday.

Once again, nothing less than a win will do. Anything else would be even more damaging for Rangers.