“There he goes again” is a phrase that any Rangers-minded punter could utter while watching Barry Ferguson kick every ball from their perch inside Ibrox.

However, when the knowing quip comes from the man himself in response to the demands he places on his players, it demonstrates that his self-awareness has not been lost during a rollercoaster four months in the big seat.

Ferguson is willing to tear strips off those in Light Blue, but he will also protect them when necessary, using the hairdryer and a hug.

And he admits that his never-ending demand for better, from the training ground to the touchline, finally rang true in a second-half pasting packed with venom and intent.

The interim manager celebrated four strikes from Vaclav Cerny, Cyriel Dessers, Hamza Igamane, and Jefte, demonstrating a primal reaction to his instructions being implemented.

Despite being hooked at half-time, Nedim Bajrami remains committed to his standards and is not in trouble.

Ferguson stated, “I expect more from everyone because I am demanding.” They might look at me and say, ‘There he goes again’. But that is the type of person I am. I’ll try to get everything I can from the players.

“Some players might dislike it. Some people will like it. But I won’t stand there…

“I know they are at a fantastic football club. I’m going to make an effort to extract every ounce of energy possible from each and every player.

“It’s not only about Nedim. Nedim has excellent qualities. He just found it difficult today. Again, this is one of those situations in which you must make a decision.

“I made my decision. I expected not only Hamza, but also the other boys to come on and cause me problems. I want to have a problem. I haven’t had a problem for a long time. I’m having a problem starting at 11. I’ll have to pick against Dundee United on Wednesday night.”

Ferguson is at unflinching levels as he faces the possibility of losing his dream job in 180 minutes.

The manager has stated that Oscar Cortes, who is set to sign permanently for a pre-agreed £4 million fee from Lens, will not be guaranteed game time during the final two games. The manager bases his decisions on daily observations of his players on the training ground.

He added, “You asked me about Oscar and Dani a few weeks ago. I look at people while they train and make decisions. Will Oscar get a chance before the end of the season? Maybe. Dani had an opportunity.

“That sounds more like Dani when I’ve seen him come on. But people aren’t just asking me about Dani and Oscar. There are many players who are not getting enough game time. But you have to earn the right to play. You don’t play just to play. “You must earn the right to be on my team.”

While some stars face a battle for Ibrox legitimacy then it is apparent that Bailey Rice is viewed as a player of merit who is primed for the biggest summer of his life.

Ferguson believes the 18-year-old Rice has the potential to excel in the position that Nicolas Raskin aspires to fill.

He stated, “Yes, I believe he can be a number six for Rangers. Again, I am frequently asked why you are not playing him. I don’t think he’s prepared to play every game.

“Now Bailey will say otherwise, which I am fine with. But he possesses all of the qualities necessary for me to play in that position.

“He needs to work on things. And I’ll say one thing about Bailey: Connor, Nico, and Dio are all the same. They pay close attention, listen, and recognise that they need to improve certain skills.

“For the next five days, I will continue to work with Bailey. And hopefully in the future, Bailey will be the Rangers’ number six. Because he clearly has the ability to do so.”

And any lingering frustrations with the Scotland youth standout are not his fault.

Ferguson believes Rice was denied the game time he deserved prior to his arrival and sees no reason why any restrictions should persist as he prepares for a seismic summer at Ibrox.

Ferguson said, “He just needs some work. So that would be the preseason. He should, in my opinion, have been playing more frequently before I arrived.

“But, as I previously stated, I believe he is behind in development and should work on things. It’s something we’ve talked about and worked on. He’s been paying attention, which is all you can ask of a young player who is highly regarded by everyone.”

Aberdeen manager Thelin believes his team’s low block will prevent Rangers from winning at home for the eighth time in a row.

But the Ibrox legend wasn’t having it, claiming his team missed a chance to run wild before the half-time changes, which resulted in a goal glut.

He continued, “No, they came to frustrate us. That’s how I felt. They had a large number of men behind the ball.

“I kind of assumed that was how they would approach it. But they’re obviously still aiming for third place.

“I mentioned that. They still have a Cup final to play. I thought they were easy to get in the first half.

“That’s what bothered me a little bit. But they paid attention to what I said at halftime.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk