Derek McInnes issues Rangers transfer plea as boss tells clubs chiefs new signings 'need to land soon'

The Light Blues fought back to claim a point in the opening game of the new Premiership season on Friday night

Disappointed Derek McInnes has urged Rangers’ recruitment team to get a move on with their search for new stars after seeing his lifeless Light Blues trip out the Premiership starting blocks.

The new Gers boss has been busy rebuilding the squad he inherited from Danny Rohl the summer and has already made eight signings.

But their lack of cutting edge up top was obvious at Tannadice as they were forced to scramble a draw against Jim Goodwin’s determined Dundee United line-up.

Thelo Aasgaard’s sumptuous second-half strike cancelled out Lachlan Rose’s opener.

However, while McInnes is refusing to panic about their title chances, he admits his team are still short of forward flair and has urged Ibrox chiefs Jim Gillespie and Dan Purdy to step up their hunt for fresh blood.

He said: “I liked the character of the team, the determination of the team, but I still expect better.

"It’s those moments, it’s those kinds of quality signings along with the players improving that we’ve got in‑house that makes me really confident that we’re going to have a strong season.

“I know the evidence today would suggest we’ve still got loads and loads to do, and I get that, but I do think we have got enough to be encouraged about.

“But the new signings need to land pretty soon. I need to say that.

“Everybody’s worked hard to get the right players in, and I appreciate the effort that’s been made, but we’ve got important games, important league games, important European games, and we’re just really trying to crank that up to try and get players in the building as quickly as possible.”

Gers have failed to record an opening day win since 2022 and carried on that run of false starts on Tayside.

With a surprise line-up including fringemen Mohamed Diomande, Djeidi Gassama and Ryan Naderi, McInnes’ team struggled to get up to speed against a United side that had already played for competitive games.

United’s sharpness was clear as they edged the first half, striking when Rose’s fortunate finish ended up in Ivor Pandur’s net.

Norway World Cup ace Aasgaard got Gers level but McInnes admits Rangers will have to improve significantly if they are to avoid another slip up against Poles Jagiellonia Bialystok in their first Europa League qualifier next Thursday.

Reviewing his first match in charge, the former Hearts gaffer said: “I’m disappointed with a lot of aspects of it.

“I felt we were just wasted in the first half. We had a Ryan Naderi header, which the keeper makes a good save from.

“We had a few things flashing across the box, but I thought we had to defend more than we needed to.

“We had to deal with a lot of traffic in our box, mostly throw‑ins and mostly set-plays because they were forcing us back and getting a bit of territory, which sometimes comes with some corners and free kicks and we’re trying to deal with that.

“I’m disappointed with the goal, obviously. I just think it was unnecessary without pointing fingers.

“Second half, we got ourselves in a bit of a position. I think the changes helped us, but I thought the approach of the team was far better and we kind of just had a wee reminder of what we were trying to do in the game.

“I thought we were far better. I thought the equaliser was coming before it actually did. I wasn't surprised when Thelo catches it as he does, because he’s such a great technician and he caught it brilliantly.

“The desire to get the equaliser was clear. I felt for five minutes or so after that, it was still clear we were going to get the winner, but I thought the desire to get the winning goal wasn’t quite the same as the desire to get the equaliser, and I’m disappointed that we never kept the shoulder to the wheel.

“It wasn’t through a lack of effort; I need to stress that, because I thought they looked fit enough and I thought we looked determined enough.

“It was just the little basic mistakes, the bitty mistakes and silly decision‑making.

“All that does is it gives them encouragement, it takes you further back, and it all of a sudden starts to look a bit more difficult than it was, instead of just keep doing what we’re doing.

“So we’ve got to improve in a lot of things.”

On a night short of positives, McInnes was delighted to see Aasgaard show signs of improvement after his difficult debut campaign in Glasgow.

He said: “The boy deserves a lot of credit. He could have taken a longer rest after the World Cup.

“I think he took a lot of confidence from the World Cup, being involved with such a great effort for his country and playing his part, the goal against France.

“It’s not easy, and I thought he made it look easy and he probably felt at home in that environment.

“It was great that he wanted to come back.

“He said to me I only need the five or six days and he wanted to come in and get his hands dirty and get going again. So that sort of attitude and approach needs rewarded and hopefully rewards us with a lot of big performances this season.”

Jim Goodwin was delighted to see his side pick up another result at home having ended last term on a seven game unbeaten run at Tannadice.

But he’s cursing Jesse Randall, who fluffed a late chance to snatch victory.

He said: Jim Goodwin:“It was a great game of football. The tempo and intensity from both teams was there.

“There were loads of 50/50 challenges, no-one was shirking out of those tackles.

“The way we started the game was really positive. I thought we were the better team in the opening 45 minutes.

“There was a reaction from Rangers in the second half and we didn’t manage that period well enough and we’ll analyse that.

“But overall, that’s the type of performance that we want to be able to put on consistency.

“There were so many good individual performances and some great passages of play.

“I suppose the one moment we’ll all look back on was that one-v-one (Randall).

“Ultimately, we need to make a better choice in that moment.

“I know it’s difficult for players because it’s a split second decision. But I’m fairly confident Jesse will make a different choice next time around.”

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