IT'S difficult to put into words just how big a role supporters can make to a football match.

However, at Ibrox on Sunday, the fans weren’t just the 12th man, they made so much ear-splitting noise they could’ve made up the entire squad.

Rangers came into the first Old Firm encounter of the season off the back of a 7000-mile round trip, playing in sweltering temperatures in Armenia coupled with a Covid outbreak meaning several first-team players and the manager were absent.

Eyebrows were raised when Leon Balogun was pitched in at right-back in place of the isolating Nathan Patterson but the Nigerian put in a stellar display and was named Man of the Match.

His previous performance in the position against Royal Antwerp was less than convincing, to say the least, but today he was a colossus.

Balogun was one of a number of players experiencing the Old Firm atmosphere for the first time and unsurprisingly he was blown away by its bewildering din.

Speaking to Rangers TV, Balogun said: "It’s the first time I’ve met the fans in an Old Firm. It has been magnificent the way they have been pushing us.

"You can only say thank you on behalf of the team. They just kept us pushing.

"We had a tough week behind us, some setbacks within the group, but everybody just stuck together.

"People have been stepping up from the reserves, from everywhere. We have shown what that is about. It’s been amazing.

"You have to [leave everything out there] in every game if you represent that club.

"Especially in that game. It means so much. You see after the final whistle what it means to everyone - to us, to club members, staff, supporters.

"It makes it that much sweeter. It’s an amazing feeling."

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The noise being generated inside the ground was spine-tingling at times and the image of all four stands doing the ‘bouncy’ was one of those footballing spectacles you simply breathe in feeling extremely fortunate to witness with your own eyes.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 66th minute when Filip Helander powered a header past Joe Hart which sparked jubilant scenes or as the younger generation like to call it - 'limbs'!

Helander echoed Balogun’s point on the fans when speaking afterwards.

"Incredible emotions, and the noise afterwards ... it's something I'll never forget.” He told Rangers TV.

"We got an important win and it couldn't be better.”

Like Balogun, Helander is an experienced footballer who has played at the highest level but they’ll struggle to sample a better atmosphere than the one that was created this afternoon.

Which leads us on to the notion that Rangers struggle to play in front of a crowd.

It was a batshit, fact-free theory that emerged after the champions happened to lose to their Swedish counterparts Malmo before a below-par display at Tannadice against Dundee United.

A postulation that was peddled not just by rival supporters but by commentators in the media who were apparently unwilling to delve deeper into the reasons behind Rangers' sudden malfunction.

We debunked the lazy notion thoroughly on this website.

Football clubs can lose matches, it’s part of the game. To think a team who went through an entire league campaign without tasting defeat last season have a mentality issue when it comes to crowds is bonkers.

Those theories were killed stone dead today - shown for the fallacy they always were.

The players rolled up their sleeves and fought tooth and nail for the three points and were carried through the match by a vociferous backing.

As Helander said, the players involved today will never forget the atmosphere for the rest of their lives - it’s a truly unique arena to play football.

READ MORE: Gary McAllister details key quality behind Old Firm victory over Celtic

Everyone remembers the famous comeback against Braga and Ianis Hagi’s comments afterwards: “Ibrox baby, it’s just different.”

It truly is a special place made even more so by those making their way through the turnstiles with everyone playing their part in today’s victory.

The Union Bears banner unfurled before kick-off summed up the fans' feelings towards their club – 'RANGERS A WAY OF LIFE' and you truly sensed that strength of feeling throughout the game from the first whistle to the last.

The players acknowledged this as the final whistle was sounded with the likes of Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic, Helander, Balogun, Robby McCrorie and others sharing collectively in a moment of pure ecstasy and delight.

On the park, it’s a result that shifts the perceived narrative.

Everyone knows Rangers have started the season sluggishly, but domestically they are now sitting pretty.

The Champions League exit was a huge blow but the team have picked themselves up and qualified for the Europa League group stages for a fourth consecutive year and come out on top in the first Old Firm derby of the season despite off-field issues.

History shows us such defiance in the face of adversity is the mark of champions.

But even champions need a helping hand every once in a while, and today Ibrox was there, loyal, loud and true - a twelfth man when they needed him most.