I suspect I was the only one who nervously checked his watch as Sunday's game drew to a close and, when Alan Freeland pointed to the penalty spot in injury time, there was a touch of inevitability about it all.
Our defence has been an accident waiting to happen since the start of the season and once again we've been made to pay for it. With chance after chance being squandered at the other end, Rangers simply cannot afford this state of affairs to continue. A commanding figure has to be found to hold the back line together and, on the evidence of the season so far, no such player is currently on the payroll.
As the transfer window is due to slam shut this week, PLG has to make sure his next signing is the right one. Sasa Papac may or may not be the answer to the problem but, if he ain't, we'll be too far adrift in the SPL race and out of Europe by the time we can make any further changes to the squad. There is no margin for error.
This is not a new problem. Dundee United and Dunfermline got goals from run-of-the-mill crosses into the six yard box and Killie's first equalizer came from an inswinging corner. I thought it was well within the goalkeeper's territory but, if he wasn't coming for it, one of our centre-backs should have made it his business to be first to the ball.
There is no point hiding from the issue. Karl Svensson has never looked comfortable in a blue jersey. He doesn't know when to challenge or when to hold his position and it is his indecision which is proving costly. With a man mountain of a centre-forward (Nish), I was surprised Killie didn't exploit this area more in the first half but, having brought on two subs, the home side were always going to be more troublesome after the break.
Every time the ball was knocked forward, our hearts were in our mouths and, after Boydie has opened the scoring, I knew we'd need to score again to win the game. Going forward, we look good, we will always create chances but, with the defence giving away freebies, we must be more ruthless in front of goal. Getting another, Kris can be pleased with his contribution but Dado can't afford to be so slack and Buffy too must be sharper. I'm afraid Filip Sebo has a lot of work to do before I'll be convinced.
It is so frustrating to look at the league table and see Sellick and the Jambos ahead of us. If we'd been a bit tighter at the back, we could be sitting on maximum points, five ahead of our rivals. Once the demands of the UEFA Cup test our resources, the absence of that comfort zone could be the difference between success and failure on the home front.
As Jan Hismawsahoor of Castlemilk has joined Them, Kenny Miller is probably working his notice at Breezeblock Boulevard so we can no longer rely on their strike force to fire blanks. I suppose much will depend on how much damage the Champions League does to their confidence and, as I don't fancy Hearts to get past Sparta Prague, without European distractions they might suddenly emerge as the team most likely to win the SPL title.
Aye, I know, these are early days. But the signs are not too good. Yes, I'm pleased with the impact of Jeremy Clement and Bardsley and Martin look like giving us something but, until we shut that back door, good work in the forward areas will be undone.
If Paul Le Guen is the man to take Rangers back to the top, he will have to get things sorted at the back and pretty damned quick too.
ERWIN GANGHUTTER