IT was quite some time before the opening of the January transfer window that Mark Warburton, the Rangers manager, took it upon himself to concede that his squad was light on “maturity and physicality” and needed “a bit of cleverness around the final third of the pitch”.

More than six weeks later, with the window on the brink of closing, this encounter merely highlighted the fact these are issues still needing to be properly addressed.

A new arrival, in the shape of Billy King, did secure the points with a fine header in stoppage-time, but he is nothing more than a short-term loan signing from Hearts with Warburton non-committal over whether he is looked upon as someone who may carry worth for the long haul.

Like King, Harry Forrester, who pitched up from Doncaster Rovers’ reserves a few weeks ago on a six-month arrangement, came off the substitutes’ bench over the course of the second half. Aged 25, he is hardly a rookie, but the value of his experience is open to debate with his CV raising more questions than answers.

For a team supposedly building towards a return to the Premiership and harbouring hopes of competing with Celtic, there has been a distinct lack of urgency over constructing a team sturdy enough to really go the distance.

Certainly, this squad would have little chance of making a challenge in the top flight. Where would they finish? It is a most engaging discussion point. Excellent performances such as the 4-2 home victory over Hibernian in December make you think that Europa League qualification might be a realistic ambition, but there are too many displays such as the one turned in against Peter Houston’s side to have any confidence in that kind of prediction.

Celtic and Aberdeen would have too much for them. Hearts, too, probably. Chances are Rangers, as they are, would be involved in a joust with the likes of St Johnstone, who thumped them in the League Cup earlier this season, for fourth place.

Of course, this is all hypothetical. There is work going on to confirm new signings by this evening’s deadline. Whether the players being pursued can give this team what it requires remains to be seen.

Certainly, Rangers did not deserve to beat Falkirk, a team operating with a vastly inferior budget, but who looked better-organised, sharper on the ball and much more dangerous despite sitting in and hitting on the counter.

According to figures put together by Rangers themselves, the league leaders had 60 per cent of possession. More telling is the fact that the visitors had considerably more shots at goals and far more efforts on target.

Rangers often struggle to break down competent teams that set up defensively against them. Warburton’s commitment to possession and passing is to be applauded, but there has to be a little more variation, greater flexibility in terms of strategy and approach.

A more physical centre-forward, even as an option to bring off the bench, would surely be worth having. In midfield, the team could do, for want of a better word, with something of a thug to protect a defence that, no matter what the manager may say about the likelihood of Rob Kiernan becoming a superstar, does not always inspire confidence.

Andy Halliday has been playing in a deeper role of late, but it is not his natural position. Dominic Ball was there at the weekend. With Dean Shiels and Nicky Law, hardly football's equivalent of the Kray Twins, in the line-up, it is little wonder that Will Vaulks and Mark Kerr relished the battle in the central area.

There are uncertainties all over the Rangers team looking forward. It is unlikely Kenny Miller will have the legs for another season in the top flight. Barrie McKay is unproven at that level. The defensive abilities of the galloping James Tavernier will face greater tests there.

This is all rather harsh, but it has to be. A second failure to escape from the second tier is unthinkable for Rangers. Their strategy has to be based on the premise that they will be a Premiership team next term.

Blair Alston, making his 200th Falkirk appearance, missed a sitter just two minutes into the match after Danny Wilson failed to prevent him having a clear header from six yards. John Baird also had a goalbound effort hacked clear in the first half with Conor McGrandles forcing Wes Foderingham into a fine save after the break.

Foderingham admits this was not a vintage display, but believes it did represent a major step towards the title for Rangers, establishing an eight-point lead over Hibernian and putting a healthy 10-point gap between themselves and Falkirk.

“We know we were below-par, but that will be real kick in the teeth for Falkirk and for Hibs as well,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say we got away with it. I think we lacked a little bit of quality in the final third, but, defensively, we were fantastic.

“Recently, the performances have been good. We will try and continue that and see if we can stay unbeaten for the rest of the season.”

For Vaulks, the disappointment of leaving empty-handed was a little too much to take.

“Playing at Ibrox, Rangers were always going to dominate possession, but we had our fair share of chances,” he said. “It was a poor goal defensively. It was just a ball into the box and we switched off.

“It was the first time they’d put a cross in the box because they don't tend to do that."

It is true. This is not to say Rangers are exactly predictable, but they do need players capable of mixing it up a little when things are not going to plan.