This was not the start Philippe Clement would have been hoping for.
Matchday one consigned to the history books, and Rangers are already at risk of playing catch up as Premiership champions Celtic prepare to host Kilmarnock at Parkhead in Sunday’s late kick-off.
Try as they might, The Gers failed to break down an impressive Heart of Midlothian outfit as they ground out a 0-0 draw at Tynecastle.
Cyriel Dessers – one of the most divisive, opinion-splitting players in recent Rangers history – did little to dispel the concerns about a lack of a ruthless streak. The former Feyenoord man squandered a trio of presentable chances, including a header which cannoned back off the bar.
At the other end, Clement was indebted to last season’s Player of the Year Jack Butland. The ever-reliable goalkeeper started as he left off last May, single-handedly keeping the eternally-Ibrox linked Lawrence Shankland off the scoresheet.
Connor Barron impresses as Rangers held at Hearts
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd was, at least, left with something to warm the cockles.
On his first competitive start, Connor Barron not only held his own, he arguably stood out head and shoulders above many of his team mates in white and blue.
“I thought he did okay,” Boyd tells Sky Sports (3 August, 2.30pm). “I don’t think there were many Rangers players really that exciting for the first game of the season.
“If you are looking for that spark, especially in the forward areas, looking for something to happen, (that) wasn’t really there.
“But I thought Barron showed that in the first half. I thought he did reasonably well in there. I think he can be pleased with his early afternoon work.”
The ‘very talented’ summer signing from rivals Aberdeen was thrown straight in at the deep end by Clement.
Having made nearly 100 first-team appearances for the Pittodrie outfit and having arrived early in the window, Barron always felt the most likely of Rangers’ nine additions to make an immediate impact in the starting XI.
And that he did.
Summer signing the stand-out at Tynecastle
As Vaclav Cerny rose from the bench late on and Jefte Vital was restricted to a watching brief – the game also came too soon for £1.5 million man Robin Propper – Barron lasted 83 minutes until his withdrawal for Kieran Dowell.
The Scotland under 21 ace was a predictable flurry of energy and aggression too, dashing around the pitch in a manner reminiscent of another midfielder who arrived at Rangers from Aberdeen in former skipper Ryan Jack.
A tally of 56 passes, meanwhile, was the second most on the pitch behind John Souttar. Barron living up to his ‘pass master’ moniker.
Barron, meanwhile, had already spelled out why he felt Rangers was the ideal fit for a player of his qualities.
“It suits me down to a tee the way we want to play,” the former Brechin City and Kelty Hearts loanee told the Scottish Sun. “I like to get on the ball, I like to create. I will always give 100 per cent. I am a leader off the pitch as well. I just want to win. I want to win games of football.
“It was clear straight away when I spoke to the staff. I knew in my head this was the place for me.”
