THE age, nationality and even affiliations of a failed manager almost always have a direct bearing on who is brought in to take over from him.

If, for instance, the head coach who is sacked is young then the club board will be put under pressure by their supporters to appoint an experienced replacement. And vice versa. Invariably, their wishes are granted.

So, the calls from both fans and former players for somebody with ties to Rangers and a greater understanding of Scottish football to succeed Pedro Caixinha in the past few days haven’t come as any great surprise.

Read more: If Derek McInnes says yes to Rangers it will be Aberdeen's biggest setback since Fergie left

Caixinha was Portuguese, had previously worked in his homeland, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Romania, Mexico and Qatar and had little if any appreciation of the very particular demands of the Glasgow club. His seven month reign was nothing short of catastrophic. It is really little wonder there is an appetite for change?

Still, the 3-1 triumph which Rangers recorded over Hearts at Murrayfield on Saturday showed there is much to be said for them opting for the tried and tested, for going back to basics, when it comes to both the man in the dugout and the team on the park just now.

Graeme Murty, the former Scotland left back who reprised the caretaker role he took on after Mark Warburton left back in February, only had a couple of days to prepare for the match.

However, the transformation in the side from the one which had capitulated so easily to a robust Motherwell team in the Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden six days earlier and then slipped up at the death against Kilmarnock in a Ladbrokes Premiership game three days later was dramatic.

Read more: Aberdeen to let Rangers speak to Derek McInnes - if Ibrox club agrees to pay £1.5m compensation​

What was the difference? How about a simple pre-match message, straightforward game plan, shrewd team selection and motivated players.

“He asked us to go out with as much energy and enthusiasm as we can and to try to play our best,” said Josh Windass, who sealed a morale-boosting win with a well-taken second half goal, afterwards. It was hardly revolutionary.

There was always the suspicion – possibly fuelled by the fact that his public pronouncements were so difficult to decipher – that many of Caixinha’s players failed to fully grasp his instructions and even refused to buy into his tactics.

There were no such issues at the weekend. Yes, Hearts are struggling just now due to the absences of key players Prince Buaben, Don Cowie and Arnaud Djoum. The departure of Jamie Walker early in the second half to an injury also hindered the home team’s efforts. The visitors were certainly getting their opponents at a good time.

Read more: Josh Windass: Hearts boosted Rangers' hopes of victory at Murrayfield - by giving our fans over 14,000 tickets​

Rangers, though, performed with purpose. Despite missing Bruno Alves, Fabio Cardoso, Graham Dorrans and their captain Lee Wallace themselves, they controlled large swathes of the game after falling behind to a stunning Kyle Lafferty free-kick midway through the first half.

Alfredo Morelos linked well with Kenny Miller to set up the equaliser a few minutes before half-time as did James Tavernier after it. Jason Holt and Ryan Jack, meanwhile, dovetailed nicely in the centre of the park and won the midfield battle easily.

Danny Wilson, playing in his first match in over two months and making his first start of the 2017/18 campaign, looked assured at centre half considering his lack of game time as did the youngster Ross McCrorie alongside him.

Appointing Miller captain, not just bringing him back into the side, was a masterstroke by Murty. Disciplined and dropped by Caixinha after the 2-0 defeat to Celtic last month, his presence has been badly missed. His return seemed to lift those around him.

Daniel Candeias put in his usual power of work out wide while Morelos probed relentlessly for an opening. Wes Foderingham in goals also saved well from Ross Callachan and Harry Cochrane. Windass took his goal well after being set up brilliantly by Miller.

Read more: If Derek McInnes says yes to Rangers it will be Aberdeen's biggest setback since Fergie left

But could having five Scots in the side have been key in the vastly-improved showing? It is perhaps no coincidence. There had only been two involved in the semi-final.

Dave King, the Rangers chairman and major shareholder, was at his third game in six days at the weekend and will take a more active role in the appointment of the new manager than was the case when Warburton and then Caixinha were hired in the coming days.

It is unlikely to be Murty, who is set to return to his position in the youth department at Auchenhowie, even though he once again impressed.

But if their preferred candidate Derek McInnes is lured back to Ibrox they will be getting the safe pair of hands they should have gone for back in March and will be all the better for it.