One convincing win with a performance and a variation of goals to back it up sees Rangers buoyed by what could be possible in the weeks ahead.
Saturday’s dismantling of Aberdeen was as welcome as it was necessary given the pessimism around the club in recent weeks including the public question of pressure on Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
In losing the opening goal, Jim Goodwin’s team threatened to exploit a vulnerability to exploit Rangers woes but the best that can be said is that the response was emphatic. GvB’s team roared back into the game and never looked back, the foot stayed on the accelerator with a very handsome 4-1 victory to show for it.
A 6-1 or 7-1 would not have flattered the Gers, it was that good.
Time
As good as the method and style of the performance was, this isn’t Rangers having suddenly turned a corner and on the road to something great. It is merely the first step.
What it does is to allow some light in, as a new week dawns with the visit of Ajax coming before another important Premiership encounter, away to St Johnstone on Sunday. Now there is something to continue as well as to build on. In Tuesday’s final Champions League group game, a campaign to forget, the result doesn’t matter as long as the display on the pitch matches much of what was witnessed on Saturday.
With just four games to go until the World Cup enforced shutdown, Gio van Bronckhorst needs to maintain the basis of a successful plan and keep it going. Injuries are mounting but over the next two weeks, his men must leave it all on the pitch.
If the break comes with a sense of regret if Rangers have built up a head of steam, the conversation around the manager and club can change to an extent. First of all, much more of the same is required.