IN many ways, this game could end up mirroring Rangers’ season. If it does, Mark Warburton’s side will be celebrating come the end of the campaign.

There was a positive, encouraging start and a brief spell of frustration before a pleasing finale. That is the part that Warburton and his players hope is still to come this term.

Once again the Light Blues were quick out of the blocks on Saturday but it took until the closing stages for their efforts to be rewarded as St Mirren were beaten and a place in the Petrofac Training Cup final against Peterhead was secured.

It has been the story of Rangers’ season overall thus far. Warburton’s side hit the goal trail and racked up the wins in the opening weeks but have found the going tougher in recent times.

A title win that looked like it would arrive sooner rather than later could very well now have to wait until the closing stages of the season. If Rangers win it, they won’t mind the delay though.

Their advantage at the top of the Championship standings has been eroded to just goal difference as Hibernian beat them at Easter Road, won their game in hand and then two points were dropped at Livingston last weekend.

Tomorrow evening, when Dumbarton visit Ibrox, Warburton’s side have the chance to increase the gap once again, to move three points clear of their title rivals and to prove that a dip in performances is not the beginnings of a second tier slip.

With Hibs now seemingly set to push them all the way in the race for the Championship crown, Rangers will have to, as they have done in so many matches this term, finish strongly.

The Ibrox side will head into the Dumbarton fixture on the back of a deserved win once again. This was not Rangers at their best, but they were still good enough to see off the Saints.

The 4-0 score line didn’t flatter Rangers and, as so often has been the case, it could, and probably should, have been more.

A neat finish from Jason Holt after 33 minutes, the midfielder collecting a deft, scooped pass from Andy Halliday and firing home at the near post, was all Rangers had to show for their efforts from a dominant first half.

The fact that they didn’t add to their tally before the break never looked like proving costly, although Stuart Carswell did rattle the bar as Ibrox was given a wake-up call on a cold, dreich, Glasgow afternoon.

A tap in from Kenny Miller and a low strike from Martyn Waghorn put the result beyond doubt before Sean Kelly summed up a miserable match for St Mirren when he converted a Dean Shiels cross into his own net.

“I thought first half we were very good, really good,” Warburton said. “In a very respectful way, I think we should have come in more than one up at half-time.

“We created a lot of chances, moved the ball, dominated possession and didn’t get all of the rewards. Second half, not quite as good.

“I thought we had a 15 minute spell where we were sloppy and gave the ball away but I was pleased at the end.

“We worked St Mirren, they worked very hard themselves, we worked them, got the openings and got the goals.

“That is what we spoke about. The work in the first half I think wears teams down, in terms of us moving the ball.

“They were keeping their shape and they were hard to break down but we created a lot of chances in the first half. To go in 1-0 was, of course, pleasing but it should have been more.

“We had that spell, they hit the bar and it could have been 1-1 quite easily. In truth, I thought we dominated the ball and should have been out of sight.”

It was Miller’s effort after 77 minutes that clinched a final berth and eased any nerves and doubts that had started to creep in around Ibrox.

The striker was handed a starting spot at the expense of Nathan Oduwa and ensured he made the most of his chance with his sixth goal of the campaign.

It was his first since a brace in the 5-1 win over Alloa in August, and first since he put pen-to-paper on a new contract to keep him at Ibrox next season.

“He has earned that deal,” Warburton said. “I have said that before that he earned it, there is no sympathy vote, we can’t afford that to happen, not at Rangers.

“He has earned that on the playing side and he has trained exceptionally well. He has missed a couple of goals recently that he would normally put away but Kenny’s appetite never changes.

“I am delighted for him. He got the finish and it was well deserved.”

It all made for a straightforward, familiar day at the office for Rangers. Another tomorrow night would be more than welcome for Warburton.

It is the first of five fixtures his side will play in December, a run that will see the Gers also face Raith Rovers, Morton and Falkirk before the key clash with Hibernian rounds off the year.

Having made their flying start and had a frustrating spell, fans will hope a return to a higher level of performance will yield maximum points to ensure there is plenty of festive cheer at Ibrox this winter.