It has been what seems like an eternity since the full-time whistle blew a Sunday or so back. It was a painful result that will demand a response from a Rangers team that must now stand up and be counted. 

From our goalkeeper to our No.9, every player must look themselves in the mirror and ask if they really gave everything they could and if their performance was worthy of the Rangers badge. If they answer it truthfully then the answer is no. Philippe Clement has his own questions to answer as well.

That’s why it is vital that individually and collectively they come together to ensure this season doesn’t quickly fade away to absolutely nothing before September closes. 

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Of course, there are concerns and queries everywhere. Is Jack Butland in a slump of form or is this his actual ability? Will James Tavernier show the mental strength to get through this and is criticism deserved? Who is the best centre-back pairing? What is our best midfield selection? Is the winger situation as bad as we fear or are Oscar Cortes and Vaclav Cerny capable of being good players for us? Then there is Cyriel Dessers and the obvious lack of trust there. 

So many questions that require answers that only the players and management can provide. And they must do that at the first attempt at Tannadice.

Then there is the hope. On deadline day, Nedim Bajrami signed with barely minutes to go. A £4milion fee is hardly loose change for Rangers. 

The much-coveted No.10 position has been filled by what Rangers feel is a touch of class. He hit the heights with Empoli before moving to Sassuolo and now finds himself with a lot of expectations placed upon him. 

Being away with Albania during the break means that there hasn’t been much training time, but Rangers need him to be ready sooner rather than later. Let’s not do the usual ‘he needs time’ thing as we bench him. No player in this team has done enough to keep him out. So play him and let his quality shine. 

My hope is that he is the key to everything but that’s all it is. Hope. I’m not an expert on him but if he can be the player that suddenly knots the midfield to the forward line and the wingers then it will go a long way to improving everything.

Rangers need it, the fans need it, we all need it. Something to look forward to seeing, something we can pin our hopes on and something that adds a much-needed spark to our selection.

United will fancy their chances, as will Dundee, Malmo and Hibernian, but Rangers they must make sure they stand up to the pressure and the challenges that will come at them. We will be viewed as vulnerable, but with that comes opportunity. Rangers have to grasp that and embrace it.

Stand up and be Rangers players. Show us you can handle this, show us you can respond and, more importantly, show us you want to.

The management have to get it right, the players have to get it right and the fans deserve that.

It feels like a crossroads. If it gets worse then so will the reaction, get better and the fans will go with the team and support the journey. For that to happen, we must see a response. And that needs to come on Sunday.

That’s the most intriguing thing for me. Sink or swim, that’s life at Rangers.