Dundee United and Rangers draw 1-1 in Scottish Premiership opener
McInnes era begins with a draw
The Derek McInnes era at Rangers commenced with a 1-1 draw against Dundee United in the opening match of the Scottish Premiership season at Tannadice. Lachlan Rose scored for the hosts, securing a half-time lead, before Thelo Aasgaard equalised for Rangers in the second half.
McInnes, who had previously come close to winning the Premiership title with Heart of Midlothian last season, moved to Ibrox in June, taking over from Danny Rohl. He was joined by Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland and Australia midfielder Cammy Devlin, who also made the switch.
Several new players featured for Rangers in this fixture. Ivor Pandur, Ben Godfrey, Cammy Devlin, and Lawrence Shankland all made their debuts. Ryan Naderi was also given a role on the right side of Rangers’ attack, while Youssef Chermiti was named on the bench.
Despite the new additions, the first half saw Rangers struggle to control possession and create significant threats. An early flick from Shankland was saved by United goalkeeper Jack Walton, but this was one of few clear chances for the visitors in the opening period.
First half breakthrough for United
Dundee United grew into the match, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute with a well-worked team goal. Jesse Randall’s cross from the right was dummied by Zac Sapsford, allowing Lachlan Rose to guide a left-footed finish into the bottom corner of the net, past debutant goalkeeper Ivor Pandur. The goal gave the hosts a deserved lead going into half-time.
The Rangers defence was kept busy throughout the first half as United worked the ball into the box. Rose and Sapsford managed to get behind the defence on occasions, though they did not always get shots on target. Dujon Sterling and Mohamed Diomande also had attempts from outside the box for Rangers, but their efforts were off target.
Emmanuel Fernandez, a Rangers centre-back, was noted as being out of position during United’s goal. Rose’s left-foot effort spun off the post before crossing the line, securing the lead for Dundee United.
Rangers’ second half resurgence
Rangers showed significant improvement after the break. McInnes made tactical changes at half-time, bringing on Dan Neil and Youssef Chermiti for Naderi and Djeidi Gassama. These substitutions immediately made the team look more threatening.
Thelo Aasgaard, a Norway midfielder, played a crucial role in the equaliser. After forcing an excellent diving save from Walton, Aasgaard levelled the score moments later. Shankland’s physical presence created problems for United’s defence, and Aasgaard took an excellent first touch to bypass Joshua Rawlins before unleashing a powerful left-foot strike into the top corner from 16 yards in the 56th minute.
Despite the equaliser, Rangers were unable to maintain their momentum, and United managed to stem the tide of pressure. Both teams had further opportunities as the game became stretched. Jesse Randall, a New Zealand winger, missed a significant chance to secure a win for Dundee United with approximately eight minutes remaining. Following a pass from substitute Daniel Bennie, Randall dinked his shot straight at goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, lacking conviction in his finish.
Chermiti also had an opportunity to put Rangers ahead, but Walton stopped the striker’s effort with his feet. Later, United substitute Idjessi Metsoko delivered a weak effort straight at Pandur from a promising position. Ultimately, both teams settled for a point in the season opener.
Source: bbc.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
