McInnes revels in first Rangers win as Old Firm quarter‑final looms

Rangers opened the Premier Sports Cup quarter‑final run with a dominant 5‑1 victory over St Mirren at Ibrox, propelled by Ryan Naderi’s ninth‑minute strike that gave Derek McInnes his first win in five attempts as manager. The thrashing also secured the club’s progress in the competition and lifted the pressure on the new boss.

Old Firm draw set for quarter‑final

Rangers were drawn to face Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup quarter‑finals after the hat was pulled last night, with the two Old Firm rivals emerging as the first names out of the draw. Celtic had already secured a 4‑0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday, confirming their place alongside Rangers. The pairing pits the bitter rivals against each other.

The Ibrox triumph saw Rangers thrashed St Mirren 5‑1, with goals from Ryan Naderi, Vanja Dragojevic, Djeidi Gassama, James Penrice and Ross McCausland. Naderi’s early ninth‑minute strike set the tone, and the visitors managed only a consolation goal. St Mirren’s lone goal came later in the match but was insufficient to change the outcome.

McInnes’ 4‑3‑4 overhaul pays off

Manager Derek McInnes switched to a 4‑3‑3 formation, which he praised for creating greater threat at the top end of the pitch. He noted the team’s increased energy in midfield and the wider players’ contributions, saying the new system helped build the game effectively. McInnes highlighted the midfield’s energy and the contribution of the wider players as key to the performance.

“I am delighted to be at home, obviously it’s a mouth‑watering tie,” McInnes said after the draw, adding that facing Celtic two weeks in a row would be eagerly anticipated by everyone. He expressed hope that a few more wins would see the squad become more settled and stronger before the clash. He added that the fixture will be eagerly anticipated by supporters of both clubs.

The quarter‑final will be played at Ibrox on the weekend of September 12/13, just a week before the rivals meet again in the Premiership at Celtic Park. The fixture falls under SPFL regulations, which allocate around five per cent of the gate to the away side, compared with twenty per cent in the Scottish Cup. The allocation of around five per cent is stipulated by SPFL regulations for this competition.

Rangers now turn their attention to a Europa Conference League qualifier against Jablonec at Ibrox on Thursday night, with McInnes hopeful of adding new forwards before the Czech side arrives. He also confirmed that defender Ben Godfrey is likely to be registered for the European squad and could feature in the second leg as he recovers from a hamstring strain. McInnes also indicated that the club is actively targeting forward reinforcements before the European tie.

The story was filed by CALUM CROWE, SCOTTISH DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER, published at 22:51 on 16 August 2026 and updated at 22:54. The update reflects the latest developments in the club’s schedule.