ONE run came to an end as the losing streak was brought to a halt at three matches. It is hard to see this victory being the start of a long winning sequence for Rangers, though, after a 90 minutes that did little to alleviate the fears of supporters.
Two goals from Antonio Colak proved enough for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side as a Liam Smith strike was ultimately in vain for Dundee United. Both sides got what they deserved, but only the visitors can be satisfied with their efforts at Ibrox.
Defeat would have seen the pressure on Van Bronckhorst hit new heights. The break has come at a good time for Rangers but there are still many questions over where the side are heading this term.
WIN WON’T PAPER OVER THE CRACKS
The three points was the most important thing heading into the international break. But Rangers are going through the motions and a side that look low on confidence and almost devoid of ideas and inspiration are in danger of losing the support from the stands if such dross is served up for much longer once the action resumes.
Van Bronckhorst is fighting for his job and the Ibrox careers of several of his players are on the line. Off the park, there are huge questions over the capabilities of those at boardroom and executive level and the sense that the season will spiral out of control is hard to shake off right now.
A couple of weeks away from the Premiership title race and Champions League campaign will do everyone good and it will give a frustrated fan base a chance to take stock and assess where their club is right now. Unfortunately for many key personnel, that analysis won't make for pleasant reading.
The whistle was met with relief more than celebration. It is poised to be a long, hard season and it will take something special, and something soon, to change the narrative and momentum at Ibrox.
LACK OF INTENSITY A PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN
This was a tough watch for a crowd of nearly 50,000 at Ibrox. Rangers started well in both halves but the drop-off on each occasion was alarming and a game that should have been straightforward couldn't come to a close quickly enough in the end.
It was largely lethargic, uninspiring stuff as Rangers knocked the ball about with no pace or intent and didn’t exactly have Carljohan Eriksson under siege. Had United had more about them, this could easily have been more dropped points in the Premiership title race.
Van Bronckhorst could surely not have been satisfied at what he saw. It was boring, predictable stuff from Rangers and Smith’s goal rightly raised the decibel levels around Ibrox as supporters became increasingly tetchy.
The introductions of Malik Tillman and Scott Wright did little to spark Rangers and a defence that had shipped nine goals to Celtic, seven to Alkmaar, four to Hearts and three to St Mirren was relatively comfortable against an inept attack.
COLAK DOES WHAT HE DOES BEST
He is not the quickest, his link-up play could be improved and his movement is largely limited to the 18-yard box. But Colak knows how to finish and his two strikes here – a powerful drive from the edge of the area and a neat near post effort – were typical of his campaign so far.
There will be times over the season when Colak just has to accept that Alfredo Morelos is the better all-round option but nine goals from 13 appearances is a more than creditable return and Rangers would be in real trouble if Colak hadn’t hit the ground running following his move from PAOK this summer.
There is still no sign of Kemar Roofe in a matchday squad and Morelos, despite convincing his manager he merits a return to action, remains a figure that Rangers cannot rely on given his lengthy list of misdemeanours. In Colak, Rangers have a striker they can put their faith in to score goals.
KING SET FOR ANFIELD OUTING
Van Bronckhorst bristled when asked about Ben Davies in the aftermath of the defeat to Napoli and why the defender hadn’t been introduced when James Sands saw red.
It was Leon King that got the nod on that occasion and the 18-year-old then started on Saturday. He must now be in line to partner Connor Goldson against Hearts and then Liverpool after the international break.
Davies has made just three appearances since moving from Anfield in a £4million deal and his last outing, which lasted just 78 minutes, came against St Johnstone on August 13.
He has been in the squad for the last three fixtures but hasn’t stepped off the bench as Sands has been preferred to start and King has risen up the pecking order. Davies surely now cannot be pitched in at Tynecastle or Anfield.
Van Bronckhorst has yet to publicly set a timescale for John Souttar, not seen since the opening day win over Livingston, to return to action. And the situation with Davies only adds to the sense of bewilderment as Ridvan Yilmaz continues to find game time hard to come by.
UNITED FANS DISGRACE THEMSELVES
One minute. That is all they had to keep quiet for and do the right thing for. It really shouldn’t have been too much to ask but it was depressingly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, beyond scores of morons in the away end.
The boos and chants that disrupted the silence in honour of Her Majesty The Queen shamed United as a club and showed up those responsible as ignorant, reprehensible individuals.
Once again, Rangers and their supporters showed dignity and decorum as the silence was followed by a rousing rendition of the National Anthem. A period of applause followed in the 70th minute as Ibrox remembered Queen Elizabeth II just days after the wonderful tifo display against Napoli.
The statement from United - just two paragraphs and 56 words long - was feeble. It wasn't as abhorrent as the behaviour of those in orange and black, right enough.
