Rangers got another league win under their belts against Hearts to make it three unbeaten since defeat to Aberdeen.
It was far from convincing at Ibrox but sometimes you have to grind out results and there are baby steps of improvement on show.
If the team can continue to eke out results while gradually looking to improve performances then it may look to start more like they are on the right path.
On the flip side, a Hearts team with more cutting edge could have perhaps taken a point or even three back along the M8 with them, so a glass half empty approach could see that as an issue.
There were elements of Rangers‘ display to be pleased with, especially a fast start and early goal, but it was far from perfect.
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Michael Stewart and Alan Hutton disagree on Rangers
With that description of that performance, it’s no surprise that two people could disagree on it depending on which outlook you take.
Former Rangers star Alan Hutton and fellow pundit Michael Stewart have taken on two different viewpoints.
Hutton thought there was encouragement to take from the performance, especially the first half. He insists the team played ‘really well’ in that 45 although admits that changed after the break.
Speaking on Premier Sports’ The Scottish Football Social Club on 11 November, Hutton said: “I wouldn’t go as far to say comfortable. I thought in the first half they actually played really well. They played with a tempo, I thought they moved the ball quickly in the first half.
“I just felt it changed in the second half. If Vargas puts it (chance that hit the post) in, it starts to became nervy because you could feel the nerves in the stadium.
“The Hearts team I thought started to feed off that so if they could’ve taken one of their chances it could’ve been a different game.
“Rangers just got through it. It’s another one of those games where you expect them to go and put there foot down, go and get two or three and have done with it.
“But they just don’t play that way at this moment in time. You always feel there’s a nervousness in the team and it’s really affecting them. Hearts played well second half, I thought Rangers did well first half.
“Three points is the main thing but the performance has to be better.”
Stewart wasn’t in agreement and thought Gers only looked good for the opening 15 minutes. After that moment, he reckons Hearts were the better team.
He insisted: “I think there is improvement but it’s all about the speed of that movement and what is the actual potential of this team.
“I don’t see them in any way, shape or form challenging Celtic. The big question is ‘are they going to be able to catch Aberdeen?’
“I’d push back slightly on what Alan said about it being a good first-half performance, I’d say 15 minutes.
“From 15 minutes on, Hearts were the better side without really troubling Jack Butland.
“They were controlling the possession, they were moving about well, they were working it well into the final third, but the end product was poor.
“Rangers were passive and have been for so much of the season.
“They had to start quickly to get the support on board. And they did that, brilliant. But then it dissipated and it wasn’t there.
“15 minutes maximum but then it was ponderous, like it’s been before.”
Rangers display vs Hearts under the microscope
Two pretty different viewpoints on the Rangers performance vs Hearts, then.
There is probably something in both arguments and the correct answer is likely somewhere in between.
Stewart’s assessment that Hearts were the superior side on the day is a stretch but is definitely more than fair to say they were in the game and had chances to take a point.
But for Hutton to say Gers played ‘really well’ is probably going too far the other way.
It was an okay performance with some glimmers of hope but plenty to iron out.
But it is important to point out that when a team is short on confidence it is sometimes about just making sure you win and trying to build momentum, which in turn than improves the confidence levels.
