Gary McAllister says Rangers can be satisfied with their table-topping start to the season but feels they should have a few more points on the board.
The Premiership champions were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell on Sunday and missed the chance to move three points clear of Hibernian and Hearts at the top of the table and six ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic.
It was the second time this term that Rangers have dropped points after their 40-game unbeaten run was ended by Dundee United in August and, while the Ibrox No 2 is happy with their league position, he concedes that high standards mean there is a disappointment they are not further ahead.
"If you'd said at the start of the season we would be in this position where we are sat today we would have probably taken it," McAllister said ahead of his side's League Cup quarter-final versus Livingston on Wednesday.
"But us being who we are and the standards that are set, and the players would agree with me as well, we feel as if we should have a few more points.
"But it can't be that bad, we are sat top of the league and we have a chance to get to a semi-final, so loads to play for."
- Gerrard: Doctors expect Kent to miss a few weeks
- Motherwell end Rangers' Ibrox streak
- Scottish Premiership Team of the Week
Rangers finished their league campaign unbeaten last season as they clinched their 55th top-flight title but fell short in the cup competitions, losing in the quarter-finals of both the League Cup and Scottish Cup to St Mirren and St Johnstone respectively.
McAllister was at pains to stress how important their clash with Livingston at Ibrox is to Rangers and insisted no one at the club is taking the occasion or the competition lightly.
"It's massive. I have to emphasise the point that this is a really big game for us against Livi, with the incentive of getting to Hampden and getting back there for a cup final," McAllister said.
"It's an early end to a cup competition as well with a December final. It is such a big game for us, we are being very diligent in our preparation for this one.
"Over the years - I would say south of the border as well, effectively it is known as the League Cup in both countries - people have this observation that it might be the least of your priorities but that's not the case.
"We want to continue the way this club has won things over the years and it would be nice but first and foremost we have got to get through this tie and get to Hampden for the semi-final."
Hagi returns after testing positive for Covid-19
McAllister confirmed that Ryan Kent will be missing on Wednesday after picking up a hamstring injury against Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday but said that Ianis Hagi and Nathan Patterson could play some part.
Hagi has been unavailable since testing positive for Covid-19 on international duty with Romania earlier this month but is back training with the squad.
"Ianis is fine and he's back and trained, he looked pretty sharp. Ryan Kent will obviously be missing," McAllister added.
"The positive would be Nathan - he has been nursing that little ankle since being away with the national team, I think he picked it up against Moldova.
"He trained and looked sharp this morning, and will come into contention with a few others. Ryan Jack is still missing from training and he's still working to get back to fitness."
Sakala ready for Rangers expectations
Fashion Sakala is comfortable handling the expectations of the Rangers fans after thriving as a Zambian "role model".
The summer signing from Oostende scored his first goal for Rangers on Sunday in the 1-1 draw with Motherwell on a day which ultimately ended in disappointment for the club's supporters and now there are expectations for the side to improve on their cup record against Livingston.
Sakala said: "Even before I signed for Rangers, I knew Rangers and I was following Rangers. Before I made the decision to sign, I knew that the challenge I was taking was the challenge of pressure.
"It is a very good pressure to win. This is something that I like. It gives me pressure to work extra hard. I know the fans were disappointed but we are very positive to give them what they want. This is the love they have for the club. The only thing that can keep them happy is to win games. And I believe we are going to do it for them."
Sakala has been dealing with the burden of expectation since leaving Africa as a teenager to join Spartak Moscow and he is well aware his fellow Zambians are watching his progress closely.
"It's something that has helped me to keep going. Looking at where I have come from, I have been a role model to a lot of people," the 24-year-old said. "People just didn't think a football player would come from there.
"But I have made it to reach this level, and I believe I am still going. And being a role model is something that helps me to keep going. I believe I have to stay disciplined and I have to stay committed to the work - and work extra hard - so I continue inspiring a lot of people from my area in the country.
"That gives me more courage and confidence to work extra hard, to be that role model for a long period of time in my country.
"It's a very big responsibility and I think it is helping me because if I didn't have to consider it as a responsibility then maybe I would have been acting badly and not committing myself to hard work or not being positive.
"So I think the responsibility I am carrying on my shoulders makes me stay on a positive straight line, keep going forward and keep working extra hard."
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has called on his forwards to be more clinical and Sakala believes he will improve after netting his first goal in his seventh appearance.
"Honestly, I'm in a learning process," he said. "I can't say I'm the answer, but as a striker I know my mission. And the mission is always to help the team.
"I had an injury a few weeks ago. I think that's the only problem that frustrated me a little bit. Now I'm really happy. I'm back to full fitness and I'm getting my confidence again. I think I have a lot to offer the club."