Resilience. It is one of those fluid concepts, for some a buzzword, for others a core ethos central to their inner fire. But is it the flint or the flame? More on that later, let us clear the smoke first.

When Rangers rolled up (and then rolled over) at Parkhead on Wednesday there was a lack of the type of form champions are supposed to have deep wells of. Call it what you will but the men in blue looked like a sparring partner, there to take the hits and get out without too much damage.

Like a bird’s nest on the ground, the faces were familiar but oddly out of place.

For a personification see Borna Barasic, a Croatian international of undoubted quality reduced to the role of that guy who makes you wince when you realise he has been given an even number and is therefore in your fives team this week.

Much comment and angst flowed from the defeat, some misdirected, some valid, all loud. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst did not ‘get it’, the players were terrified, but most laughable was the claim that Rangers needed to hire a Scottish coach to ‘put in the fear factor’. That latter is a familiar Scottish refrain, teams need to be ‘hard’ and understand the ‘fight’. This nonsense is farcical, the modern player is about clarity of message, stats and ‘freedom to express yourself'. Being able to swear and shout aren’t headline CV requirements.

The honest truth is the highly congenial Ange Postecoglou has put an end to the snide and patronising ‘he’s likeable but not European you know’ commentary that's often found in Scottish media outlets. He’s quite evidently a knowledgeable football man, has built his team quietly and more impressively, got everyone on message. 

Hearts were next up for Rangers. Like that expensive work of art on your wall or your designer trainers it was meant to be a statement piece, and it was.

The Edinburgh side are no pushovers and manager Robbie Neilson would have been looking for any sign of mental fragility or nervousness to exploit, especially in front of an expectant Ibrox crowd, patient forgiveness being in shorter supply than an unredacted Westminster report. Rangers however, had rediscovered themselves on that bus ride back from the East End.

Scoring five and keeping a clean sheet is message enough but the opposition suffocating, stretching play, the incisiveness, the multiple cuts inflicted on a flailing Hearts side provided a much-needed morale boost to the club and fanbase. This was sport as autopsy, Hearts opened at will, turned over, examined and dispensed of.

Pathologist in chief was the returning Alfredo Morelos, fresh back from a head-scratching Colombia national camp he was in the mood, scalpel at the ready. Two goals, involved in the other three and a constant worry for the Hearts backline. There should be no doubt he is the most important player in the Rangers team in relation to performances. He focuses the Rangers attack and, in the process, occupies opposing teams’ thoughts. Many a defence set up for ‘Alfie’ and do not either contain him or in doing so are unable to focus on Rangers’ other threats.

READ MORE: Gio van Bronckhorst Rangers Q+A in full: Ramsey NOT ready, Helander update and Jack tackle verdict

In from the cold came the orderly John Lundstram, showing his own form of resilience having never properly landed his Rangers career. A surging performance from the Liverpudlian showed what he can bring. The dropped Glen Kamara has notice. Kamara indeed showed his own resilience though, coming off the bench to classily slot home from close range.

Ryan Kent showed why his position in the operating theatre of Rangers attack is secure. His ability to direct games, split defences, turn and create space is much misunderstood. He is key to success, and he continually shoulders responsibility. Resilient.

The evergreen Scott Arfield and the still-to-prove himself Fashion Sakala also chipped in with scoresheet padding. All helpful, all team-based, all supporting a resilient re-show from Rangers.

Rangers, as a team and management failed the champions question on Wednesday, on Sunday they returned and showed what they are made of. More is needed but there is evidently a resilience within this squad which augurs well for the title run-in.

In their pursuit of successive championships, and the Champions League, Rangers and their fans should bear this in mind; becoming champions is about reaching the mountaintop, becoming great is defined by how long you can stay up there before you inevitably fall.

That requires the resilience to return after setbacks, no matter how big.

Tommy is the managing editor of This Is Ibrox.

You can follow them on Twitter @Thisisibrox