With just one win in five matches, it's fair to say that Rangers are in crisis mode.

Despite Graeme Murty admitting he's been getting advice from a unknown source, the Gers look as poor as ever in the Scottish Premiership and now sit a massive nine points behind 2nd placed Aberdeen in the table.

Last Friday night's match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle was a new low. Richie Foran's side hadn't won in thirteen matches prior to meeting Rangers but fully deserved their win in the Highlands.

Now Rangers head into a tough match against St Johnstone, a side they haven't beaten this season and who, with a victory, could move to within three points of the Ibrox side. Tommy Wright's side offer real danger and could add massively to the woes of Murty and his team. Massive improvement is needed from recent performances.

What form does that improvement take?

Here are three areas Rangers need to improve in if they're pick up the three points against St Johnstone...

Leadership when defending their box

Taking nothing away from Billy McKay's late winner on Friday night, it was a fantastic strike, the fact remains that Rangers' defending could have been much better. McKay was given far too much time and space to get his shot away, physically bullying a non-committal Rob Kiernan to challenge for the high ball in the box.

Kieran wasn't alone, nobody else showed leadership or took ownership of the situation. There was also no communication, no Rangers player made the shout to claim it, they just left it up to sheer chance whether or not McKay would get on the end of it.

Communication and leadership are things supporters must look for in the defence against St Johnstone. If they can remain organised and disciplined then they have every chance of keeping a clean sheet against the Perth side, something they haven't managed to do this season.

Sustaining pressure for longer periods

Rangers actually started the game well on Friday night in Inverness, taking the game to their opponents and piling on serious pressure in spells. What they didn't manage to do though was sustain that pressure and take a grip of the game in the midfield areas.

Andy Halliday and Emerson Hyndman need to find the right midfield partnership against St Johnstone if they're to have any chance of a result. Tommy Wright has his team well drilled and well prepared on a weekly basis, able to find space between the midfield areas and attack even against the likes of Celtic.

Rangers fans know that Halliday has excellent performances in him, but they haven't seen that for a while and need him to be confident and assertive again. If he can do that then it provides the basis on which the Gers can turn the screw on opposition defences and get themselves a goal or two.

Finding that cutting edge

Rangers' lack of goalscoring edge has perhaps been their biggest downfall this season. The likes of Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn simply haven't delivered the goals you would expect from them in the Scottish Premiership.

Waghorn got on the scoresheet against Inverness, netting a penalty, but needs to combine more effectively with the likes of Barrie McKay and Kenny Miller on Wednesday night.

In form, Waghorn could be the goal poaching saviour the Gers need to fire them closer to Aberdeen in the coming months.