Rangers' early-season struggles continued with a 1-1 draw at St Mirren, leaving Russell Martin's side still searching for their first league win of the season ahead of a do or die old firm match with Celtic next week.
Here's what we learned from the match:
Defensive Vulnerabilities Persist
Despite dominating possession, Rangers' high defensive line was exposed when Jonah Ayunga capitalised on a pass from Mikael Mandron to give St Mirren the lead.
This recurring issue highlights the need for defensive adjustments. John Souttar was once again caught deep, playing the Kenyan onside, while Emmanuel Fernandez looked shaky, deputizing for the suspended Nasser Djiga.
Max Aarons was again poor, bullied and beaten by the St Mirren flankers, while Joe Rothwell and Nico Raskin failed to adequately support the backline from midfield.
Striker Selection Under Scrutiny
The decision to start Thelo Aasgaard as a makeshift striker raised eyebrows. Aasgaard missed a clear opportunity in the six-yard box, underscoring the importance of having a natural striker in the lineup.
Danilo improved the flow of the side after he came on despite his clear limitations. With Cyriel Dessers injured, the decision to leave Hamza Igamane benched despite chasing the game is a real eyebrow raiser.
With rumours of bad attitude amid links to France, could this be the last we see of the Moroccan in a Rangers squad. Bojan Miovski remains linked as a replacement and Martin and his side will be anxious to get that deal completed as soon as possible, the proven scorer at this level will be a much needed boost for a faltering front line.
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Teenager Curtis Provides Spark
Substitute Findlay Curtis made an immediate impact, scoring the equaliser shortly after coming on.
His performance contrasted with that of Joe Rothwell, who he replaced, the former Leeds man had a lacklustre showing and was rightly taken off, looking completely gassed the longer the game went on.
There are clear fitness issues with Rothwell that need addressing before he can start again, Curtis meanwhile showed why despite his young age, he should be a starter on current form, he looks the best natural finisher at the club.
Lack of Creativity in Attack
Rangers struggled to break down St Mirren's defence, with Djeidi Gassama often isolated and lacking support. The team's attacking play was slow and predictable, failing to create significant chances.
Akin to the latter days of Ryan Kent when times got tough, the rest of the squad simply look to pass to Gassama and hope he makes something happen, we’re becoming a one-man team and despite the former Sheffield Wednesday wide man’s clear ability, he can’t do it alone.
Managerial Pressure Intensifies
With the team still winless in the league and coming off a disappointing Champions League exit, the pressure on Martin is mounting.
The club's ambitions demand immediate improvement, and the upcoming fixtures will be crucial for his tenure, starting away to Brugge and at home to Celtic next Sunday. Failure to win next week, and Martin could be set to depart Ibrox with a record breaking short tenure.
Rangers' inability to secure a victory against St Mirren raises serious questions about their early-season form. With the pressure mounting, Russell Martin's side must find a way to turn their fortunes around in the coming matches.