GIVEN the shambles he walked into when he arrived at Rangers last week, there was always a feeling that it might take Danny Rohl some time to turn things around.
All the more so when, having been in the building for barely 48 hours, his reign began with a disastrous 3-0 Europa League defeat away in Norway against SK Brann.
That result became the latest wound inflicted on Rangers, but the healing hands of Rohl have shown signs that they could well restore the club to good health in the fullness of time.
It is early days in the tenure of the young German head coach, but victories over Kilmarnock and Hibernian have brought plenty of positives.
First of all, after scrapping it out to claim three hard-fought points at Easter Road on Wednesday, it marks the first time that Rangers have won back-to-back games all season.
It was also the first time that Rangers had kept a clean sheet in 25 matches away from home, a run stretching all the way back to last November.
The striker fired in an early opener at Easter Road that proved to be the winner
Danilo embraces his father, Marcelo SIlva, after the victory over Hibs on Wednesday night
New Rangers boss Rohl has led the side to back-to-back wins in the Premiership
There were several players whose performance levels have improved significantly from anything they showed under Russell Martin.
John Souttar looks far more comfortable and commanding in a back three in Rohl’s 3-4-2-1 system. Likewise Jayden Meghoma as the left wing-back.
Connor Barron was excellent in midfield and had one of his best games in a Rangers jersey, albeit he blotted his copybook slightly with the concession of a late penalty.
But Jack Butland stepped up and made the stop from Jamie McGrath’s spot-kick, meaning the Rangers keeper has now saved six of the last seven penalties he has faced.
Butland has been excellent this season, even accounting for a mistake against Kilmarnock last weekend. But it was at the other end of the pitch where perhaps the biggest positive of all was to be found.
In Danilo, Rangers have a striker who is enjoying a new lease of life under Rohl. He scored the only goal of the game after five minutes, a clinical left-foot strike low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
It was the finish of a player with renewed confidence pumping through his veins and it was celebrated loudly by the travelling support.
The Brazilian is mobbed by team-mates after his strike in Edinburgh
As Danilo’s song echoed out, it emerged that his dad was in amongst the crowd in the away end. Marcelo Silva looked like he was having the time of his life, bouncing around, dancing Samba style and waving his flags. At full-time, Danilo went over to embrace his old man and acknowledge the supporters. In his post-match media conference, Rohl referenced the renewed harmony around the club.
Danilo perhaps didn’t quite have the same dance moves as his dad. But, after scoring two goals in as many games, he is finally settling into a nice rhythm after so many missteps in a Rangers jersey.
It is easy to forget that Rangers paid good money to sign him from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023, forking out a fee of £6million and tying him down on a five-year deal.
Danilo was signed under Michael Beale and was supposed to spearhead the club’s attack. But due to a combination of form and injuries, it never materialised.
The relentless changing of managers also can’t have helped him. Rohl is now the fourth permanent boss he has player under at Ibrox, along with Beale, Philippe Clement and, finally, Martin.
Throw in the interim spells of Steven Davis, Barry Ferguson and Steven Smith, all of which lasted for varying lengths of time, that’s seven different managers or head coaches Danilo has played under.
But it is Rohl who looks best equipped to get a tune out of the Brazilian, who is finally beginning to look like the player Rangers thought they signed two years ago. If the change in system has helped any one player above all others, it is Danilo. In the new 3-4-2-1 shape, he looks so much better playing centrally just off the main striker.
Danilo netted his first goal under Rohl with a strike against Kilmarnock at Ibrox last weekend
Against Kilmarnock last Sunday, it was Bojan Miovski. Against Hibs on Wednesday, it was Youssef Chermiti. Those two will battle it out to start against Celtic at Hampden on Sunday.
But Danilo’s place in the team is assured. When he was asked to lead the line on his own in either a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 under previous managers, he never convinced.
He looks like he has a new lease of life in his new role under Rohl. Not quite a No9, not a No10 either, almost as a sort of old-fashioned second striker who works better in a partnership.
Speaking after the win over Kilmarnock last Sunday, Danilo said: ‘I think you can threaten a lot when the opponents see there’s two strikers.
‘I like to play all around, not just sticking in one place and holding balls up. I like to move around. I think it suits me.
‘So it was a good opportunity for me to move around and be more of a 10, then maybe a nine at other times. I like to move around and not just to stick as a No 9.
‘When a new manager comes in, you always want to help and want to be playing. With the previous manager (Martin), he started playing me and then (I was) not being part of it.
‘So obviously it’s hurtful and difficult because you’re there to help. But that is the past.
‘Danny (Rohl) has been good. He’s talking and then wants to improve everyone, and then obviously it starts from the zero. As a player, you want to show you are ready to play and help him.’
The victory at Easter Road moved Rangers up to third in the table, five points behind Celtic and 11 points behind league leaders Hearts.
There is still much work to be done if they are to haul themselves back into a title race. But the direction of travel feels positive after such a turbulent start to the season.
In Danilo, they have a striker who is finally beginning to deliver. Better late than never. Next stop, Hampden.
