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For the more optimistic among the Rangers support, the early hours of Friday morning were spent crunching the numbers.
With a point finally on the board and three games yet to play, Danny Rohl’s side could yet amass 10 points in the Europa League.
In last year’s competition, Fenerbahce sneaked through to the knockout round with that total and a minus-two goal difference.
Everything to play for? Absolutely. Would anyone of sound mind be putting their loose change on it coming to pass? Absolutely not.
While it’s theoretically possible that Rohl’s men could defeat Ferencvaros, Ludogorets and Porto to qualify, the reality is more sobering.
This side doesn’t have the quality or the character of others who previously excelled on this stage.
Nico Raskin sums up the frustration felt by all at Ibrox as Rangers battled to a draw with Braga
Gabri Martinez scores the equaliser for the Portuguese visitors, who were down to 10 men
Ex-Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke slides in on misfiring Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti
This European campaign has been one to forget. It’s irrational to believe that a team that’s struggled so often domestically can simply reinvent itself under the lights on a Thursday night.
Supporters are not blinded to this. You could sense it in the strange atmosphere inside Ibrox before the game with Braga.
With Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart no longer around, there was no animosity in the stands. Nor was there a sense that this was a new beginning.
There’s a profound lack of faith in this side. Not before time perhaps, there also appears to be a sense of realism about what Rohl can achieve with it.
The German’s made a decent fist of things so far. The supporters have clearly warned to his charm and positivity. But the standard of player at his disposal is modest and the ceiling for improvement is low.
It’s a case of doing what he can with what he’s got until the point where he can change it.
While a win in Budapest in a couple of weeks would keep the flame flickering, the more pressing task for the German is ensuring Rangers are still in the conversation for the title come the New Year.
German boss Danny Rohl is going to be busy with matters on and off the pitch at Ibrox
Starting with the visit of Falkirk and up to the trip to Parkhead on January 3, Rangers have eight Premiership matches.
Within that, there are trips to Tannadice, Rugby Park and Tynecastle. Hibs, Motherwell and St Mirren also visit Ibrox.
That would be daunting for an in-form side. If Rohl can get through that schedule unscathed with such a mediocre squad, he’ll be doing extremely well.
While he’s managed to get a bit more out of the team since taking charge, he started with the bar set low. You don’t get the impression that a season-defining winning run across the festive season is imminent.
To come through challenges like the one that lies ahead, you need ability and mentality. This squad has a deficit in both.
This was abundantly clear even as Rohl’s men earned a draw which lifted them off the foot of the table on Thursday.
A goal to the good at half-time, they were coasting towards victory when Braga were reduced to 10-men around the hour mark.
Rather than put their foot to the floor, though, Rangers became hesitant and erratic.
Max Aarons is crowded out on an evening when Rangers struggled to get a grip of the game
While Nasser Djiga’s weak header leading to the equaliser was the costliest error of the night, it was not the only one.
With the midfield — Mohamed Diomande, Connor Barron and Nico Raskin starting to malfunction — Rohl’s side lost control of the match. They were hanging on for a point in the closing minutes.
As encouraging as some of the play was either side of half-time, it will have troubled the German to see so many players go into their shells and such a lack of composure in the clutch moments.
Thelwell can be blamed for many things. Untimely injuries to John Souttar and Derek Cornelius aren’t among them.
The signing of Djiga was on his watch, though. The on-loan Wolves player certainly has the physicality you’d want from a centre-half. It’s his concentration which is suspect.
He was culpable for the goal Livingston scored last weekend and repeated the trick against Braga.
The moment Souttar is available again, Djiga will disappear. A return to Molineux in January will surely beckon if both parties are agreeable.
Djiga is enduring a horrific time of it at Rangers and most fans hope his loan will be cut short
If only Rohl had the potential to swap personnel so quickly at the top end of the pitch.
Youssef Chermiti and Danilo’s combined contribution on Thursday was again wholly inadequate. Bojan Miovski came off the bench and played like he was wearing the wrong boots.
No Rangers striker has scored in the past five games and nor do any of them look like they are going to change that any time soon.
The £8million Rangers spent on Chermiti at Thelwell’s behest must be giving chairman Andrew Cavenagh night tremors.
Where exactly was the data which suggested that such an outlay would be wise? The player hadn’t scored a league goal for Everton in two years since signing from Sporting Lisbon.
He was again as blunt as a spoon against his compatriots. That’s one goal in 14 now for a player who’s on a four-year deal.
To think that Thelwell ushered 29-goal Cyriel Dessers off the premises to free up a space for him in the squad.
Danilo flatters to deceive. The Brazilian, who’s contracted until 2028, hasn’t had his injury troubles to seek since signing from Feyenoord for an initial £4.5m.
But he’s been fit this season and still hasn’t delivered. Three goals in 19 matches is a paltry return which is unlikely to have potential suitors queuing around the block to take him.
Rangers' problems have not ended with the departures of Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell
Miovski, we know, is a forward with pedigree. He was outstanding in his time with Aberdeen, his form there earning the Dons a £6.8m fee from Girona.
Rangers have paid an initial £2.6m and handed him a four-year deal.
So far, though, he’s looked a shadow of the player who first came to the Scottish game from MTK Budapest. Two goals in 16 appearances says it all.
Has he regressed as a player or is he just weighed down the mediocrity around him?
Speaking this week, Rohl didn’t seem fazed by taking more to do with recruitment until the point where Thelwell’s successor is identified.
Such is the size of the mess the sporting director has left behind that one window is probably not going to be sufficient to clean it up.
The German has a lot to contend with before that process even begins, however. He needs to instil confidence and a winning mentality in the side.
Only once Rangers regularly exhibit those qualities domestically will Europe be worth losing sleep over.
