THE surroundings were the same and there were still a fair few familiar faces as Kyle Hutton made his return to Ibrox for the first time since leaving Rangers in the summer.

But the changes from last season, both on the pitch and in the stands, were considerable.

There was, for a start, a crowd of 44,133 packed in to the Govan ground to see the Championship match against Queen of the South.

That was in stark contrast to last term when Hutton and his team mates struggled in the second tier and ultimately failed to win promotion to the top flight against an unsettling backdrop of uncertainty and unrest.

Attendances at league games dropped way below 20,000 during the 2014/15 campaign – the first time in nearly 30 years that had happened - due to widespread unhappiness at those who were, at that stage, running Rangers.

The performance of the home team, too, was noticeably different to a player who promised much when he broke through, occasionally excelled, but all too often failed to deliver during his difficult tenure at the Glasgow club.

“I think they take a lot more chances than the team last year,” said Hutton. “They leave a lot of men up the park and stretch the game. That’s the main difference I have noticed. Obviously, it is going well for them.

“I think the atmosphere is a bit different as well – because they are taking those chances. They are leaving men up and playing more attacking football. That’s what the fans want to see.

“Last year we were affected by all of the off-field stuff. But I also felt we were a bit wary. We played it defensive as well a wee bit last year.

“Mark Warburton has come in and brought an attacking style and that’s what the fans want to see. They want to see boys left up the park, wingers taking their man on and creating chances. That’s what they are getting, so that’s why they’re happy.”

He added: “That was a big difference. I remember the times we would go in at half-time 1-0 down and all hell would break loose. Obviously, it wasn’t like that at all on Saturday.

“That is coming from the style of football the manager is trying to play. People are buying into that. If they do go in at 1-0 down, they are not that bothered because they know they will come out and have a right go in the second half.

“Overall, I think it is the whole style of football he is trying to play that is getting the fans behind him. They have won all of their games so far and are looking well.”

Yet, there was one definite similarity between last season and this at the weekend regardless in the change of emphasis; Rangers toiled to break down resolute opponents at home.

Warburton’s team made it 10 wins out of 10 in the league when Martyn Waghorn, who had just seen a penalty kick saved, netted a header in the final minute of regulation time.

A Queen of the South side weakened by injury had sat back and contained their hosts well and had, despite their unashamedly defensive approach, taken the lead through a well-worked Derek Lyle goal at a corner

Jason Holt had levelled for the home team early in the second half and it fleetingly appeared as if a shock result was going to be avoided. But the visitors persevered and Wes Foderingham had to save goal-bound shots from both Alex Harris and Liam Coogans.

The sense of relief among those still left inside Ibrox when Waghorn popped up and nodded in Nathan Oduwa’s cross at the death – his 15th goal in 15 appearances for Rangers - was palpable.

Rangers maintained their nine point advantage over Raith Rovers at the top of the Championship as a result of the nerve-jangling win. However, for the second game in succession at home they looked fallible.

Whether another Championship club, Raith, Hibs or Falkirk, can challenge them for the title is debatable given the lead they have already built up.

But Hutton, who performed well for the Palmerston Park club, certainly believes they are, as a direct result of their positive approach, far from unbeatable.

“We had been working on our game plan all week,” he said. “We knew about how their full-backs bomb on and where the space was. I thought we did well and caused a few problems, especially in the first half. That was pleasing.

“They have weaknesses. It is up to other teams in the league to exploit those weaknesses and hopefully take something. We nearly did it. So who knows?

“The full-backs stay so high. That can be both an advantage and disadvantage. It leaves space in the wide areas and if you can exploit that then you’ll get a few chances.

"It was strange being in a different dressing room and coming out at the start. It didn’t work out the way we wanted in the end. But we will take confidence from how long we held out.”