The number nine in question is Cyriel Dessers. The Nigernian could – arguably should – have had a hat-trick but again spurned the chances that came his way.

The 30-year-old has 23 goals for the season – a respectable return – but were he more clinical, he could have double that.

If Dessers be one of the players Ferguson is losing patience with, one option would be to move Hamza Igamane up front. The other would be to restore Danilo to the starting XI.

Butland may also be sweating on his place in the team.

The former England international goalkeeper should have kept out Levitt’s opener, the latest in a line of mistakes that has grown worrying long.

Ferguson may feel his experience is needed in the white-hot atmosphere of a European tie, while the Englishman’s role in the impressive win at Fenerbahce should not be forgotten.

After watching Rangers’ Jekyll and Hyde performances as a pundit and club ambassador all season, Ferguson has now witnessed them from pitchside.

His patience has finally snapped. “Absolutely miles off it,” was how he described the performance against Hibs.

There were over 20 minutes, plus stoppage time, to play after Martin Boyle sprinted through the wide open Ibrox spaces to put the visitors two goals up. Rangers offered precious little in response.

It appears that will now be left to a manager who demands one simple thing from whichever line-up he picks for the remainder of the season – “pride”.

Depending on Thursday’s result against Bilbao, it may be all Rangers have to play for in a sorry season of failure.