Rangers commenced their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 victory over Saint-Etienne at Ibrox, marking the first match under new manager Derek McInnes. The win, however, was overshadowed by widespread supporter dissatisfaction directed at the Scottish Football Association (SFA) regarding a four-game ban imposed on McInnes.
Fan Reaction to SFA Ban
The SFA's decision to ban McInnes for comments made at the end of last season while he was in charge of Hearts resulted in a vociferous protest from the home crowd. Chants against the SFA were a consistent feature throughout the 90 minutes, mirroring similar demonstrations by Hearts fans in a recent match. This ban means McInnes will be unable to formally manage Rangers from the touchline until the Europa League qualifier against Jagiellonia Bialystok on August 13. He will also miss the first three domestic fixtures of the season.
Match Performance and New Signings
Despite the off-field controversy, the new-look Rangers side showed promising signs during the friendly. Five new signings featured in the starting lineup: Ivor Pandur, Ross McCrorie, Ben Godfrey, Dan Neil, and Lawrence Shankland. Godfrey captained the team for the match, one of several potential options for the permanent captaincy, which also includes Shankland, Neil, and Ross McCrorie.
Lawrence Shankland opened the scoring for Rangers in the fifth minute from a penalty after Mohamed Diomande was fouled. Youssef Chermiti nearly extended the lead shortly after, hitting the crossbar. However, Saint-Etienne equalized in the 38th minute through Jakob Breum, capitalizing on defensive hesitation.
Second Half and Decisive Penalty
Cammy Devlin, a half-time substitute for Findlay Curtis, made a significant impact with his aggression and industry in central midfield. The winning goal for Rangers came in the 84th minute when Thelo Aasgaard converted a penalty. The team's tactical setup included a flat four in midfield behind Shankland and Chermiti up front.
Rangers' next match is a home fixture against West Ham on Sunday, followed by their Premiership campaign opener away to Dundee United the following Friday.