Derek McInnes Admits Rangers Were ‘Spooked’ in Dundee United Draw

Derek McInnes has admitted Rangers were ‘spooked’ by Dundee United’s front three as his side opened their 2026/27 Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw at Tannadice on Friday night.

The new Ibrox boss saw Rangers fall behind to Lachlan Rose’s 38th-minute finish before Thelo Aasgaard hauled the visitors level with a superb strike 18 minutes later.

However, the Light Blues could not turn their brighter second-half spell into a win. Speaking to Sky Sports after the contest, McInnes accepted that Rangers had not produced enough across the 90 minutes to merit all three points.

McInnes said he had expected his side to show more composure, adding: 

The 55-year-old felt United’s repeated runs pushed his defence backwards, leaving excessive space elsewhere and contributing to poor decisions in possession.

McInnes made a decisive intervention at half-time, replacing Djeidi Gassama and Ryan Naderi with Dan Neil and Youssef Chermiti.

Rangers immediately carried the greater threat, with Chermiti twice denied before Aasgaard drove the equaliser into the corner in the 56th minute.

That response offered a glimpse of the attacking intensity McInnes wants, but it lasted only around 15 to 20 minutes.

The manager said Rangers then missed the opportunity to increase the pressure after drawing level and conceded that "we didn’t do enough to win the game".

However, there were warnings at the other end too. Jesse Randall went clean through late on, only to send his attempt into Ivor Pandur’s arms, ensuring Rangers escaped with a point after United had repeatedly threatened the space behind their back line.

The result means Rangers have now failed to win their opening league fixture in four successive seasons. 

This occasion also marked McInnes’ first competitive match in charge and featured starting debuts for Pandur, Ben Godfrey, Cammy Devlin and new captain Lawrence Shankland.

It would be premature to judge a rebuilt team after one competitive outing, and McInnes stressed that improvement should come as the group develops.

Even so, the lack of first-half control was an immediate reminder that their summer changes have not yet produced a settled unit.

Nevertheless, that must change before Europe if the Gers want to compete for a place in the actual competition.

The Light Blues have little time to dwell on the draw, with a Europa League third-qualifying-round first leg away to Jagiellonia Bialystok awaiting on Thursday in Poland.

McInnes must now decide whether tactical adjustment alone can sharpen his side or whether further recruitment is required before that trip.