Why Rangers fans are buying into Mark Warburton

Last night’s loss to St Johnstone was disappointing, but the relative lack of knee-jerk negative reaction from Rangers fans gives some idea as to how the fanbase is buying into Mark Warburton’s vision for the Club.

Few fans expected an overnight fix, but if you asked the majority before the trip to Easter Road in July their opinion of 11 wins and one defeat by the twilight of September, well, no words needed.

Before Warburton took charge Rangers had no scouting network, a glut of rubbish on the wage bill, and no clear direction.

While the scouting network remains worryingly absent, the other two components have been dramatically overturned, and after 12 matches, to only have failed to win on a solitary occasion is testament to the difference being witnessed.

Supporters trust Warburton – yes, last night was far from in line with the positive impact he has made, but the relative absence of overriding negativity from supporters following such a loss gives a glimpse of that trust.

Few would pretend this Rangers squad is ready for the SPL. All promoted teams require signings to sustain progress, and to improve the quality of the squad for the step up. Perhaps some thought it was immediately prepared, and thankfully last night taught them that Rangers remain a work in progress.

It is evident that Rangers are leaps and bounds the best team in the Championship, and if all is pure and holy will win the league convincingly – but translating that to the step up that the SPL demands will require corresponding personnel improvements. It would also be the fourth different league in four seasons that Warburton has managed in so he is having to learn different standards and teams at a rate of knots.

The whole experience is a learning curve, but Warburton has earned the right to be given plenty of time to prepare this squad, this Club for next season.

A fine response to last night’s loss would be a convincing dispatch of fifth-placed Morton on Sunday, and one can only imagine that is what Rangers will manage.