Rangers secured their first victory under new manager Derek McInnes, achieving a comprehensive 5-1 win against St. Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup. The triumph came in McInnes's fifth attempt as manager and offered relief after a turbulent start to the season, including a recent Europa League exit and falling five points behind Celtic in the Premiership title race.
The win provides a much-needed confidence boost and buys McInnes time as the team prepares for a Europa Conference League qualifier against Jablonec.
Match Development
Rangers adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which contributed to a more balanced team performance and increased attacking threat. New signing James Penrice made a significant impact on his debut at left-back, contributing a superb assist for Djeidi Gassama's goal and scoring the team's fourth himself. The option to purchase Penrice permanently from AEK Athens is likely to be exercised based on his performance.
The scoring opened in the ninth minute when Djeidi Gassama capitalized on a defensive error by St. Mirren's Jayden Richardson. After his initial shot was saved, Ryan Naderi bundled the rebound home for his first Rangers goal since early April.
Vanja Dragojevic doubled Rangers' lead ten minutes later with a spectacular 25-yard volley, a strike that was immediately considered a contender for goal of the season. The midfielder, playing in his preferred central role, controlled a clearance on his chest before unleashing a dipping shot into the top corner.
St. Mirren pulled a goal back on the half-hour mark through Chris Mochrie, who capitalized on a midfield mix-up between Nico Raskin and Dragojevic. Mochrie drove forward and scored off the underside of the bar, briefly making Rangers appear vulnerable.
Second-Half Performance
Any nerves were dispelled shortly after halftime with a quick succession of goals. A swift counter-attack led to Gassama scoring Rangers' third goal after receiving a pass from Penrice. Penrice then added his name to the score sheet, netting the fourth goal from inside the penalty area.
Late in the game, Ross McCausland scored Rangers' fifth goal. Earlier, St. Mirren had been awarded a penalty when Manny Fernandez fouled Eseosa Sule, but Killian Phillips' initial attempt was saved by Ivor Pandur after a referee's whistle recall.
The victory marks the end of St. Mirren's reign as Premier Sports Cup champions. St. Mirren had begun the season strongly under manager Craig McLeish, winning their opening two league matches and five of their first six in all competitions.