Almost a year on from Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s appointment as Rangers manager, yesterday's result in Perth had a terminal feeling.

Because what is there left to hold onto? Results have caught up with performances, the magic touch in big games has diminished in the most dramatic way possible and seven points separate the Old Firm at the top of the table. Losing 2-1 to St Johnstone may well well be the final nail in the coffin of this season and this manager.

The only way results can be excused is if performances suggest they'll be more positive in the future and that is far from the current case.

Up until a fortnight ago, van Bronckhorst could argue his defence on the basis of league standings. If not for John Lundstram's unfair dismissal in Edinburgh during a 2-2 draw with Hibs things would’ve been tied at the top. Even if, as previously discussed by the Rangers Review, underlying numbers were less encouraging. Now, after the worst Champions League group stage record ever was confirmed and four points have been dropped in the league, the dissatisfaction and distrust in the process have bubbled over.

The question is, what qualifies as performing below par for the Dutchman? Totalling up each European humiliation, another Parkhead debacle, numerous performances that have returned results but not much else and now a seven-point gap, van Bronckhorst’s record fits the bracket four months into the season.

There is no real palpable identity on the ball, team selection has varied drastically, few players if any look to have improved their levels since the summer. Yes, the responsibility does not fall solely on the manager. The collective decision to not refresh the squad this summer rather than the next has been shown up inside months. But the familiar problems yesterday speak to a wider lack of progress. Here Rangers were again behind, flinging in crosses, with only a James Tavernier effort making a result feel salvageable.

Ironically, yesterday’s first half was a better performance than most away matches this season. The midfield had a nice balance to it, Lundstram’s energy was well utilised freed from the shackles of the defensive screener and Malik Tillman found himself free in pockets, albeit without any cutting edge and a low quality of chance. 

20 corners throughout the entire game were nearly all comfortable for the hosts. Rangers have scored from just two this season after notching 15 in their last league campaign. Unable to make the small margins count, constant outswingers were constantly unprofitable.

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And in stark contrast to the defensive resolve they faced was the concession of the opener. Lundstram’s loose pass, Tavernier’s failed clearance, Ryan Kent’s half-hearted sprint to stop James Brown from finding the top corner. It was descriptive of how vulnerable and disjointed the team can look in their worst moments.

“I'm disappointed of course. A 2-1 defeat is always difficult to take,” van Bronckhorst said post-match.

“I said before the game you have to start well. We were excellent for the first 30 minutes. You can decide the game with the chances we had. We hit the bar twice and had chances to score more goals. We didn't do that.”

Much like his European reflections which have sought to temper expectations, the manager's comments post-match do not properly criticise a performance that merited it. Rangers did not deserve to win yesterday. They had lots of shots that were of low quality. St Johnstone were comfortable funnelling play wide and dealing with the crosses in return. 

The consistent underplaying of this side's potential in the Champions League given the financial disparity does not sit well when domestically, St Johnstone have taken all three points and Livingston were minutes away from doing the same at Ibrox late last month.

Van Bronckhorst’s selling point last season was an ability to muster up results even when the football didn’t sparkle which, combined with last year’s big-game showings, felt like a successful concoction.

But by November, barring a miracle, that has unravelled. The danger of this precarious situation is, if Rangers continue to back their manager, there is no guarantee it will not get worse. Yes, wins could follow against Hearts and St Mirren, the winter break could be one last chance to reset.

However, football is dictated by results and the fragility experienced now means at any given slip-up crisis will return, even if van Bronckhorst were to somehow turn it around from here.

Rangers needed performances as well as results until the World Cup break and have ended up with neither. As a result, there is nothing to hold onto.

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