A year ago, Russell Martin tore strips off his Rangers team after an opening day draw at Motherwell. Now, it's a different manager with a similar result, but a different tone. Stephen McInnes, the former Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Hearts boss, is at the helm of the Ibrox outfit.
Dundee United held Rangers to a 1-1 draw in the Premiership opener, with Stephen McInnes stressing the need for time and further additions. The former Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Hearts boss told Sky Sports, "It's one game. I'm not really interested in what's happened previously, but from my point of view, we are going to get better as we go along."
Rangers went behind to Lachlan Rose's first-half effort but improved after the break and equalised through Thelo Aasgaard. However, they failed to capitalise and were fortunate not to concede late on when Jesse Randall dinked a tame effort straight at debutant goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson agreed with McInnes that there's no need to panic. "It's not the result Rangers wanted, but it is a point away from home at a difficult venue," he said on BBC Radio Scotland. "Other teams will come here and find it very difficult."
McInnes also made it clear there will be further additions in the weeks to come. Summer signings Dan Neil and Ross McCrorie came on as substitutes, but the team struggled to create chances and were described as "the furthest thing from compact" by former Rangers man Andy Halliday.
Rangers are after defensive recruits, but it's in wide areas that McInnes is most keen to strengthen. The team finished with Mohamed Diomande and Aasgaard playing narrow, and McInnes told Sky that they need people with the ability to go past defenders. "We still would like a winger to go get at people, make a difference and get people on the back foot," he said.
McInnes is working hard to bring those types of players to the club, and his team will face another test on Thursday when they travel to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europa League qualifying. The uncertainty surrounding new signing Olwethu Makhanya's visa status adds to the challenge ahead.
Source: BBC Sports