Rangers' old errors resurface as McInnes era begins with two winless matches
Derek McInnes has yet to secure his first win as Rangers manager after a 2-1 Europa League qualifying defeat at Jagiellonia Bialystok followed a draw at Dundee United, with defensive mistakes again proving costly.
Derek McInnes described it as his dream job, but the reality at Rangers has been harsh. Two games, no victories, and familiar problems. The Scottish Premiership side fell 2-1 to Jagiellonia Bialystok in the first leg of their Europa League third-round qualifier in Poland, coming just days after a tame draw at Dundee United in the league opener.
McInnes said after the loss that the performance contained many of the flaws he had seen from Rangers last season. He pointed to the team giving up too many chances and beating themselves through individual errors.
Rangers have brought in nine new players this summer, with more potentially on the way, but the frailties that undermined last season remain. The central defensive pairing of Dujon Sterling and Emmanuel Fernandez looked uncomfortable, especially in the first half. Jagiellonia cut through Rangers with ease, and Thelo Aasgaard's early spin nearly created a chance before the hosts took the lead through a counter-attack.
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday was blunt in his assessment of Fernandez on BBC Sportsound. He suggested McInnes could not trust the defender at the moment, but also noted that there were no other options available.
A triple half-time change brought on Cammy Devlin, Findlay Curtis and Nicolas Raskin, transforming the second-half display. Curtis, a 20-year-old who impressed on loan at Kilmarnock and earned a call-up to Scotland's World Cup squad, was the standout. He struck the post and sent another effort wide in Poland, showing the attacking invention Rangers lack.
Curtis had only played eight minutes in the league opener, which puzzled many. Steven Thompson, a former Rangers striker, praised his directness on BBC Sportsound, saying he wants to take players on. Andy Halliday noted his fearless nature and ability to drive at opponents.
The performance offers a glimpse of what could be, but McInnes has considerable work ahead to fix the defensive vulnerabilities that continue to haunt the club.
