Barry Ferguson is convinced there is a clear sign of improvement at Rangers with the 'real business' to come in the summer.
The Ibrox hero believes the second half display against Celtic is the template for the way things need to be for Michael Beale and his troops for the rest of the season and the new boss will take plenty positives from the derby day thriller.
One of those will also come in the shape of Fashion Sakala who Ferguson named as his man of the match by a country mile and believes performances like the one he showed in front of nearly 50,000 Light Blues supporters will give his boss a real headache going forward as he will simply have to play. There is no doubt from the club legend that some 'surgery' is required but he's happy to hear it needs to be players who will go straight into the side and not 'fillers'. A few bodies may well arrive this month but the real work begins in the months to come.
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Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: "Beale will be delighted with so many aspects of this display but after taking just one point then we know it's going to be extremely difficult to claw Celtic's nine point lead back. I've always said it is going to be a hard task but the manager will bank a lot of positives from Monday and so will his players.
That second half performance must now be the template for the way things need to be in the months ahead as it's the way Beale will want his Rangers players to perform. If they can do that then more often than not they will win games and pick up the points so that's why there can be plenty of optimism as we move into a new year and era under a new manager.
"If you look at the last four games leading up to this Old Firm game then it was 12 points out of 12. Were the performances amazing? No. What I've liked about Beale since he's taken charge is that he's honest when giving his assessment of how things are and have been. After every game he states that there is still lots of work still to be done.
"I am convinced that in the short four or five weeks that he's been in charge there are clear signs of improvement in the clear knowledge that there is still a lot to be done. He has said he wants to bring new players in and there are players he will need to move out but as a Rangers fan you have to feel encouraged by what they are seeing since resuming the season after the break for the World Cup.
"There was also a superb display from Fashion Sakala who was my man of the match by a country mile. He showed good quality on the ball and that's an area where he's let himself down with that final bit in the final third where he has a habit of rushing things. That's his style as it's all about pace and doing things at one hundred miles an hour.
"There were a couple of times when he snatched at half chances inside the box but his work-rate was exceptional but you could say that about the full team. Sakala was the stand-out and he has given the manager a headache. If he continues to perform like that then he has to play. Rangers still need a bit of surgery but I like the fact Beale says he won't just bring in fillers, the recruitment needs to be guys who go right into the team. A few may arrive but the real business will be done this summer."
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