McInnes’ debut at Tannadice yields cautious draw for Rangers

Rangers, under new manager Derek McInnes, opened his tenure with a 1‑1 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice on Friday, a result that mirrored a similar opening‑day stalemate a year earlier. The match featured debutant Ivor Pandur in goal and saw Lachlan Rose give United the first‑half lead before Thelo Aasgaard equalised. Russell Martin’s memory of a draw at Motherwell a season ago lingered as the visitors struck first.

New faces also featured, with centre‑back Ben Godfrey and former Hearts duo Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland starting, offering a glimpse of the new‑look side at Ibrox. Their inclusion highlighted the squad overhaul that McInnes has begun.

In the second half Rangers pressed forward and Thelo Aasgaard restored parity, reinforcing his impact after the first‑half goal. Dundee United created several chances of their own, testing the defence repeatedly.

Jesse Randall’s late dink was comfortably saved by debutant goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, denying United a winner. Despite the improvement, Rangers could not add a third goal and the match ended level.

Aasgaard’s late equaliser gives McInnes a foothold at Rangers

The final whistle confirmed a 1‑1 draw, a result McInnes described as disappointing, noting that "we've dropped a couple of points, but we weren't good enough to get all three." He added that the squad must trust the process, keep their shoulder to the wheel and execute simple tasks better.

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson echoed the calm tone, saying there was no need to panic after a point away at a difficult venue and that other teams would find the ground challenging. He stressed it was only the first game and there would be time to judge once McInnes secures his preferred players and refines training.

Former Rangers man Andy Halliday criticised the tactical shape, arguing that Rangers were far from compact and that the best individuals on the pitch were Dundee United players apart from Aasgaard. He called the performance a work in progress and suggested further additions were required.

McInnes highlighted the need for additional signings, especially a winger capable of stretching defenses, and confirmed that summer arrivals Dan Neil and Ross McCrorie had already featured as substitutes. He also noted Ben Godfrey’s hamstring issue and the pending visa for new signing Olwethu Makhanya ahead of the Europa League qualifier, underscoring the club’s ongoing recruitment drive.