“OUR mentality always has to be the same.

"Tactically you should do something different [depending on the opponent]. But we have prepared the team well enough to create chances tomorrow against St Johnstone.”

Comments made on Tuesday by Giovanni van Bronckhorst that speak to his early success at Ibrox and pre-empted last night’s comfortable home win over St Johnstone. The winning mentality that is a necessity for any man in his position is constant. The methods and processes to achieve that goal require adaptation and alteration.

“The boss has come up with an abundance of tactics we can do against different opponents and it’s always changing,” James Tavernier also commented before the tie.

“We’ve got a game plan that we’ve been working on in the past couple of days so it’s a case of being at it from the first minute, sticking with it and getting the right result that we need.”

It’s been the obsession over detail, importance of team meetings and tactical variation that has allowed Van Bronckhorst to make such a successful start. Whatever formula rustled up in the seven games to date has been fine-tuned to the opponent and returned results.

Against teams that have squeezed high up the pitch, Rangers have maximised width and played in behind. When central space has been crowded, Ryan Kent's touchline-hugging has allowed him to run at defences with the convenience of momentum. Last night when St Johnstone predictably sat deep, patient, high-tempo football saw Rangers take advantage of control. 

"To break a defensive formation, sometimes you have to have patience. Sometimes you have to invest in moving the ball around and making sure their energy levels will drop," Van Bronckhorst commented post-match.

The only change came on the right. Where Ianis Hagi replaced Fashion Sakala. "Today is a different game so that’s why we altered the playing style of our wingers," said the manager.

READ MORE: Detailed Rangers player ratings as Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara treat Ibrox to footballing masterclass

Although only one goal up by half-time - the Ibrox side were as dominant as they could’ve been by the break, stumping any plans in transition St Johnstone travelled south with. 

Inarguably, one of Van Bronckhorst’s ‘quick wins’  has been to throw teams off Rangers' previously trackable scent. In his five league games, he has played with two wingers, used a back three in build-up and liberated the attacking unit. Whereas previously the predictable elements of Rangers' game allowed for the scripting of opposition attacks and pre-ordained moves – this newly-found variation is restricting such stories. 

Callum Davidson was irate at points on the touchline. Eetu Vertainen clearly failed to carry out his manager’s instructions judging by the attention he received and his half-time substitution. Davidson waved his team forwards and grew animated as Connor Goldson waltzed into the midfield. One ball in behind the defence aside, the visitors couldn't impact the game as envisioned. 

The tempo set by the hosts moved the deep 5-4-1 block regularly. Three times in the opening 15 minutes Kent received the ball pinned to the left touchline, chopped inside Shaun Rooney and tested Zander Clark. Joe Aribo was marvellous throughout and clipped the woodwork. Glen Kamara lost the ball too many times for his manager's liking. A victim of his own standards, his quick ball progression was still notable and impactful.

The attacking quintet of Kent, Aribo, Morelos, Hagi and Arfield always teetered on the last line, tempting Goldson to telepathically find them as he had done in Edinburgh last weekend. The defender has only improved in possession with greater responsibility these past few weeks and controlled proceedings.

It was his initial contact from a corner that allowed Morelos to peel off his man and convert at the back post minutes before half-time. Goldson's composed defending when one-on-one with Michael O’Halloran then enabled the start of a free-flowing move from back to front soon after the break. Morelos cut the ball across the face of goal towards Kent to seal the points.

READ MORE: Relentless Rangers continue Premiership surge as St Johnstone are swept aside - Video match report

"We want our strikers in the box, whenever there is a danger we want him to be there and to create chances for other players," Van Bronckhorst said of his No.20. "It was a deserved goal at that time in the match, Ryan had to be there and he was."

With two more home games to come either side of Christmas Day, St Mirren and Dundee United will have learned more about Rangers' approach at home under their new manager. They too will look to limit and create moments.

But by varying approaches, Van Bronckhorst is keeping his powder dry. His side have shown themselves capable of utilising the 'abundance' of tactics he has brought to Scotland, which is working for their betterment.