Rangers Complete Swoop of Scottish Premiership September Awards

After a very slow start to life under new manager Derek McInnes, September proved to be a very productive month for Rangers. 

The team won all four games in the Scottish Premiership, defeating Falkirk, Motherwell, St Mirren and Celtic, conceding just one goal in those four games. There was also a 3-0 hammering in a League Cup Old Firm too, which can only further get the fans on board with the current project.

Owing to this excellent form, Rangers have been recognised for their efforts by the Scottish Premiership. Indeed so, as Derek McInnes has been named Manager of the Month and Olwethu Makhanya has been named Player of the Month in a double swoop for September.  

After the team lost to Jablonec in the UEFA Conference League play off round, even the most optimistic Rangers fan would have found it impossible to predict that McInnes would win Manager of the Month and that it would be a Rangers player to win Player of the Month. 

But, here we are, and you have to say it is richly deserved on both counts. Makhanya has been very consistent with his performances, particularly in the Old Firm win at Parkhead last time out. He has looked like a very shrewd piece of business so far, having signed from MLS side Philadelphia Union for £3m in the summer. 

There is hope that fellow MLS recruit, Kevin Kelsy, can now begin to hit the ground running in a similar vein. With Youssef Chermiti and Lawrence Shankland sidelined, there will be more pressure on him to deliver in the coming weeks, certainly until Shankland returns from injury. 

He is not the only available forward it should be said, with Bojan Miovski and Ryan Don Naderi both fit too, but there is a bit more excitement about the South American striker it feels like, rightly or wrongly. Hopefully proves to be the former. 

Now, some people may be wary of the 'Manager of the Month curse' but fear not, it is a myth. It does not exist. A team is no less likely to win games of football because of an award handed out. Sometimes there will be a slight regression to the mean - it is not possible to just keep winning every game forever. But there is certainly no curse. 

Once again, great to see some recognition for the exceptional efforts across September. Let's hope for more of the same in October, starting from the clash with Kilmarnock on Saturday.