The Giovanni van Bronckhorst era kicked off with a solid 2-0 victory over Sparta at Ibrox. The performance was one which was littered with positives both individually and collectively.

There was two changes to the side, with the injured Leon Balogun and Scott Arfield dropping out for Calvin Bassey and Ianis Hagi.

There was a certain degree of concern regarding Bassey at centre back but both he and Connor Goldson were superb.

Rangers lined up with a difference immediately to the naked eye, it was 4-4-1-1 with Joe Aribo behind frontman Alfredo Morelos. Hagi and Kent were wide right and left with Kamara and Davis tight together in the engine room.

Rangers went right back to basics, two banks of four which were compact and prepared to do the ugly side of the game. Many times last night Rangers simply cleared their lines by booting the ball into the opponent’s half or out of play - simple but effective defending. There was no attempt to play the ball out, this was all about defending the zero, a phrase now synonymous with the manager's early philosophy.

There was more natural width in the team with the ball and without the wide men of Kent and Hagi tucked in well to support the full-backs and the midfield. Kamara and Davis stayed close to each other so when one didn’t win the battle the second one would, backing each other up really well.

Joe Aribo floated around and easily could have had a few goals with a chance early which hit the bar with after setting himself up beautifully on his left foot. He then missed a gilt edged chance, when Hagi sent a bouncing ball across goal, scooping it over on the bounce. He was then sent clean in and again chipped it over in the second half after great work from Kent. A little bit more confidence and quality could easily have lead to him notching a few goals.

But then there is the Buffalo.

The man who has had so much criticism this week and that includes from me. He turned in a much more positive performance and played right up front, showing small glimpses of his quality when not pressing and harrying the defenders. A lovely team move would present him a chance which he dug out on the run superbly, similar to that of Ally McCoist almost thirty years ago at the old Hampden.

Then in the second half, he was presented with a gift which he nodded home after a shocker in the Sparta defence. But that aside it was a much more enthusiastic and bright performance by Alfredo.

He still has some way to go, he needs to get sharp and could have had a few more but missing opportunities is welcome from a guy who hasn’t even had those recently. Yes when you criticise a player you will get stick, but that criticism was spot on. The player many slated, the guy many of us said was starting to look like his time was over, didn't turn up last night - this was the Alfredo of old. This can still be Morelos’ Rangers team. The manager has already identified that he wants Alfredo leading the line instead of being "in midfield" as he described it. 

But that effort and desire needs to come from within. He can silence his critics and shush the crowd but the reality is we only want to see El Buffalo performing like that rather than the one we saw Sunday.

He wasn’t the only one with better moments as Borna Barisic turned in a much stronger defensive performance, stopping more crosses and one defensive header which was hugely impressive.

Allan McGregor was back to his best with two stops that defied logic in flashes of form reminiscent to that which made him a contender for the major Player of the Year awards last term.

But this night was all about the manager and his early glances of life in the Rangers dugout. He looks the part, he speaks well and he has the support of the fans. Little glimpses of individuals picking up form and an all-round better team collective was evident throughout. It was back to basics but he got a response and that was vital. He made small changes in line-up, a big formation change, introduced quick counter-attacking whilst ensuring his back four were defending everything. It was all visibly noticeable.

The negatives would have been the final 15 mins when we gave up a chance to Sparta at the back post after Tavernier misjudged the flight of the ball. Then there was the double McGregor save but even then everyone was back defending with their lives. Chances will happen and teams will get their phases in games at this level, it’s inevitable, but Rangers guarding the goal and defending that Zero needs to become second nature. Early indications are it’s what the manager demands.

But the positives are there, a better GK performance, a defence much more solid, a midfield partnership prepared to back each other up, width providing spark and a Buffalo looking more like his old self.

It’s a stepping stone, just like not conceding first was also. But with every stepping stone there comes rewards and this was a strong victory. This could have been even more but the players defending the clean sheet is equally huge.

If Giovanni can continue to build this team's confidence and rejuvenate certain players then we won’t be stopped. This is a side not playing well and is through the Europa groups again, not to mention top of the league.

We have levels to go and a manager that’s clearly firm enough to ensure we get them. They have some ways to go before I will start to say guys are looking consistently more like it, but this is all there for them now. A legacy was created with 55 but now there is a new era starting with a Dutchman who knows what is expected and what is required.

In Gio we trust and that’s an early task completed with Europe parked for several months and qualification in the bank. Now we turn our attention to the league and a period of vital games where we will need individuals to prove that wasn’t just a one-off.

But just imagine Gio is about to bring that quality and freshness in performance, just imagine the Buffalo is about to snarl again and just imagine if those silly mistakes be eradicated.

It’s a mouthwatering prospect and it’s worth saying again that despite all the apparent swashbuckling superstar football we are being told is happening elsewhere - we are still able to welcome the chase.

This is Rangers, tricks are for the circus, qualification isn’t for everyone.