IBROX was in party mode once again. This draw with Brighton and Hove Albion wasn’t one to savour or celebrate, but this occasion was memorable in its own right.

The draw with Arsenal last weekend saw 2,000 supporters return to Ibrox for the first time since March last year. Those numbers were increased here and will be stepped up in the coming days and weeks ahead of the Champions League qualifier with Malmo or HJK Helsinki that, as it stands, will be played in front of a capacity crowd.

This fixture may only have been a run of the mill friendly against a middle of the road Premier League side, but it was significant in its own right for those that made their returns to Ibrox. For many, it would have been their first time within sight of the stadium since before the pandemic changed the world in a sporting and societal sense.

There was no need for those here to read too much into this afternoon as an exercise. It was one to enjoy without the pressure that will be associated with so many other outings in the coming months, a chance to toast their 55 legends and welcome heroes old and new to Ibrox.

The sight of so many fans back in the stands was heartening for everyone in attendance. Well, apart from Shane Duffy, that is.

The former Celtic defender was given an ironic cheer as he began his warm-up and made his way across the park towards the Sandy Jardine Stand. That was only the start of a torrid 45 minutes.

Every touch was followed by a roar, the taunts of ‘one Shane Duffy’ and about Celtic’s failed ten-in-a-row bid continuous. It was only in the final stages of the first half that the Ibrox crowd got bored of the endeavour that had kept them amused during a low-key encounter.

The visit of Brighton was originally scheduled to be the final fixture of the summer for Rangers before the real action gets underway against Livingston next weekend. As it turned out, it was only the warm-up to the glamour of the Galacticos.

With Real Madrid in town on Sunday, it was no surprise there was a somewhat second string feel about the side that Gerrard sent out here. It may have been unfamiliar, but there were positive individual showings within an encouraging collective performance.

Given the respective stages that these teams are at ahead of their new campaigns, Rangers were naturally fitter and sharper than Albion. Indeed, a long-range effort from Adam Lallana was the closest the visitors would come as most of their chances, in the loosest sense, arrived from corners and came to nothing.

That was ultimately the same for Rangers. Their opportunities were greater in number, though, as those on the fringes of the starting line-up sought to earn themselves a place for the Premiership opener.

The most impressive of all was midfielder Stephen Kelly but there is little chance that he will line up against the Lions as Rangers begin their title defence. Neat in possession and smart without the ball, the youngster didn’t look out of place alongside Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield, or when he was joined by John Lundstram after the interval.

Given the competition for places in that central area, Gerrard faces a dilemma over what to do with Kelly this term. Time will tell what the future holds for the Auchenhowie kid that is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Nathan Patterson and make his name at Ibrox.

Kelly would fire a free-kick over the bar from a promising position, while the rest of Rangers’ chances in the first half fell to more established figures.

Cedric Itten’s early effort was cleared off the line by Duffy and Leon Balogun’s header was saved by unconvincing keeper Kjell Scherpen.

Scott Wright again showed flashes of what he can bring to the side and his effort from the edge of the area was deflected and saved. The same fate befell a strike from Jordan Jones as Rangers failed to break the deadlock during a first half that petered out as time elapsed.

Duffy didn’t reappear after the break as his Ibrox return was brought to an end, but the home crowd still had a centre-half to focus on and give a rousing reception to.

For the first time since last March, Nikola Katic pulled on a Rangers shirt. The Croatian would miss all of the 55 campaign with a cruciate knee injury and his appearance here was warmly welcomed as he made a long-awaited return to action.

He was soon followed onto the park by countryman Borna Barisic, Jermain Defoe and debutant Fashion Sakala. Their introductions came just seconds after Lundstram had rattled the woodwork with a curled shot from distance.

Sakala looked lively, especially given his lack of time within the Rangers ranks thus far, and it was Gerrard’s side who continued to look the most likely to break the deadlock as the sun began to fade.

Ianis Hagi was denied the opener after referee Don Robertson blew for a soft foul in the seconds before a fine strike and the closing stages were largely a non-event.

That won’t bother Gerrard too much. In truth, either will the performance or result against Real Madrid as Rangers play their final friendly.

The proper stuff, the competitive ones, will begin soon enough. That is when it really matters for Rangers.