THERE aren't too many people who comprehend just what Mark Warburton has had to deal with in the first few months of a tumultuous season. Possibly not even Mark Warburton.

Coming in off the back of a Ladbrokes Championship title rampage and with the force of a William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final blowing in Rangers's sails, the wind has not just been taken away from them but, in the eyes of many of the club's supporters, completely diverted them off course of where they believe they should be heading.

In the bizarre world of the Old Firm where reality often goes out the window, the fact Celtic have cruised ahead in recent years with Rangers just re-emerging from the shadows will have done little to dampen the aspirations of some that the Ibrox club should be up there challenging for titles.

Read more: Stewart Fisher: Joey Barton's apparent Old Firm transfer battle is nothing newThe Herald:

Add to that the 5-1 demolition from Celtic and the 0-0 home draw with Ross County, the unconvincing nature of Rangers's play in the league in general or the rammy with Joey Barton, the scenes of celebration in the west end of Hampden back in April seem a like an ever-fading memory.

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Warburton has spoken in recent days about the perceived 'negativity' in the wake of that demolition at Parkhead, a game the Englishman claims was not lost by as big a margin as some believe as he attempted last week to hit back at what he thought was over the top criticism of him and his team.

"I’ve walked in those shoes," said Alex McLeish, the former Rangers manager. "I’ve had success then a bit of failure and it hits you like a sledgehammer, and that’s what happened to Mark a couple of weeks ago.

"It’s not just the result. He’s seen the press, and he’s been battered. I phoned him and said ‘Welcome to the Old Firm’.

"You think you should get understanding, but you have to realise that’s the way it is. You think surely they must know this is not the same level, or that Dembele is on five times what my highest-paid player is on or whatever. But there is no rationale.

"I think Mark Warburton should be given time to settle into the league then gradually you would expect the investment would become a little bit better for him.

"Right now I’d not be expecting Rangers to be challenging Celtic for the title, and that they will be fighting it out with three other teams."

There is also the small matter of a Mr Joey Barton for Warburton to contend with.

A turbulent few months have defined the start of a Rangers career that is already hanging by a thread after being banished from Murray Park before hit with a three-week ban for a post Old Firm row. On top of that, reports emerged yesterday the midfielder was being investigated over betting allegations surrounding Celtic’s 7-0 drubbing in Barcelona.

“Well, I knew it was going to be colourful with Joey signing,” said McLeish. “You know, a lot of people underestimate what they’re coming to here. And I also believe, I know, that a lot of players have struggled to cope with playing for Rangers or Celtic.

“You think of Basile Boli coming. I can give you loads from both sides.

“Basile was a European champion who came and struggled in Scottish football, struggled at Rangers. Some players struggle to live up to the names of these clubs.

“I don’t think Joey is in the category of being overawed. Far from it.

“But I think he’ll be honest and say he’s not reached his level. Particularly after what he said.”

With all of this in mind, Rangers probably could be doing without a trip north this weekend to kickstart their season.

Read more: Stewart Fisher: Joey Barton's apparent Old Firm transfer battle is nothing new

As they sit in fifth place with two wins from their first five league games, Warburton will take his team to Pittodrie to meet an Aberdeen team keen to prove a point.

For the last two years it has been Derek McInnes's side that have carried the can as challengers-in-chief for Celtic, a job they have progressively got better at with the passing of time. It is a fixture that McLeish has Aberdeen as firm favourites for, but McInnes is refusing to pay it any attention until his team have taken on St Johnstone in the last eight of the Betfred Cup at Pittodrie tomorrow night.

"It’s the most important game because it’s the next one," said the Aberdeen manager. "We said at the start of the week that this was a big week for us. We wanted to be six points better off and into a semi-final. Nothing has changed.

"We got the first part of it done by winning it on Sunday, that hopefully helps us going into this one. But the full concentration is on this one, as you would expect.

"Our opponents deserve that, our supporters deserve that – and the players are reminded that they’ve got a job to do, to get us into a semi-final. There will be no distractions from our end."

BT Sport is your home of unmissable live football from the Betfred League Cup. Watch Aberdeen v St Johnstone on Thursday 22 September, exclusively live on BT Sport 1 from 7:15pm.