Rangers' dominant first-half performance against Aberdeen had one major caveat - a lack of killer instinct and failure to be clinical. It was a problem that proved to be fatal after a fractured, sloppy performance in the second 45 led to an abject 2-0 defeat. 

Close Rangers observers have seen this movie before. While a bluntness in front of goal hasn't defined the Michael Beale era to date, it's certainly been an issue throughout this season - and arguably much longer. 

Yesterday, there were three moments that could have put Rangers in front. Fashion Sakala and Nico Raskin both saw the whites of Kelle Roos' eyes while Alfredo Morelos' swivel shot was cleared off the line with the Dutchman fixed to his line. It was a trio of well-constructed chances that should have allowed Beale's team to enter the second 45 minutes firmly in control and basking in plaudits. Aberdeen had been limited to just 0.10xG and 43 accurate passes (48 percent) to Rangers' 300 (85 percent). Hitting the net was the only thing missing. Sadly for the Ibrox men, that remains a rather important part of football.

And when you look at the paucity of trophies that have ended up in Govan since the return to the top flight in 2016, you can trace a lot of it back to the failure to secure a no.9 that can do the business, week in, week out in Scotland. Rangers haven't had a frontman score more than 25 goals in a season since 2008/09 when Kris Boyd reached 27. That's now 14 years ago.

Alfredo Morelos still has hero status amongst many fans, but his big moments have tended to come in Europe. In the Premiership, he's never topped 18 goals. That's partially Morelos' fault, and partially not. If he'd had the mentality to apply himself to the bread and butter he'd have been in an elite league long ago. That said, Morelos is who he is and at some point, you have to accept that and build around his weaknesses.

In signing Antonio Colak from PAOK in the summer, it appeared the club was doing just that and the Croatian made a strong case to be an excellent signing in the early days of the season. Yet, through a combination of poor form and injury, he's had such a drop in status his future will be in question at the end of this term. You'd have to say, it's a transfer that's not worked and Rangers, a full year after going into a Europa League final without a fit recognised striker, are once again reliant on their mercurial Colombian - a player we already know doesn't score enough goals to drive the team to titles. 

READ MORE: 'The best football was played by Rangers' - Michael Beale defiant

There is, of course, another excellent finisher on the club's books in Kemar Roofe. While there may remain a glimmer of hope Beale could get him going again, he's hardly been fit for two years and clearly can't be relied upon. 

So who's to blame for all this? These issues may go across three managers - but just one sporting director. 

Influential figures at Rangers were not as keen to see Ross Wilson depart as some of the fans were. They were privy to the significant work undertaken behind the scenes that fans were not but there's no doubt transfer budgets have not been used wisely in recent years. Bad luck with injuries is one thing, but the summer was crucial and you can only confidently say Malik Tillman is an upgrade of seven signings. Meanwhile, the striking problem wasn't fully addressed.

There are also problems at the other end. Rangers leak goals at an alarming rate, a far cry from the new Iron Curtain defence that propelled them to 55. Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin haven't performed well and of the 80 shots on target they have faced, 31 have hit the net - a massive 38 percent shots-to-goal ratio. As a comparison, Joe Hart at Celtic has conceded 26 percent.

None of this is news to Beale, he's talked repeatedly about games being decided by acuity in both boxes. He said after the defeat in the North East: "You talk before the game about how ruthless we have to be and it’s something that’s been dragging around with us a little bit. Anyone who watches us play regularly and our fans will tell you that, we miss a lot of chances that we create. 

"Going forward if we’re going to win things and we’re going to compete over the course of the season we have to be more decisive in the box. Today, it was there for us. The best football was played by Rangers, that’s clear but we lost the game 2-0."

It's good the manager knows what the problems are but Beale can't keep going with Groundhog Day messaging. It will have to change if Hampden doesn't lead to an unexpected win. There can be no room for sentiment if we see a second failure in Mount Florida because make no mistake, Beale is now approaching what will likely be the most important week in his Rangers managerial career. Win, and it's game on. Lose and he will go into next season with a monumental task to win hearts and minds, even before a ball is kicked.

Ruthlessness will be required in that, more likely, scenario. Those that see their future elsewhere should be allowed to depart for their summer breaks early. Beale is better working with B team charges that will definitely be around than those who won't risk an injury in a fifty-fifty tackle.

If he's to have any chance of success, he must find a number nine capable of firing a team to the title. The manager will have to find a killer in the box in the summer - but lose to Celtic and he will need to find one within himself.