Winless start for McInnes as Rangers struggle

Derek McInnes is still searching for his first win as Rangers manager after three matches. His side were beaten 2-1 by Hibernian in their Scottish Premiership home opener on Sunday, a match that also saw expensive forward Youssef Chermiti stretchered off. Rangers have conceded in the first half against Dundee United, Jagiellonia Bialystok and Hibernian over the last nine days, shipping five goals in total. Poor finishing, an inability to break down organised defences and recurring defensive errors have defined the start of McInnes's tenure. Former Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan told BBC Radio Scotland: "Based on today's performance, I would be very surprised if Derek McInnes knows his best starting eleven. We are already into big games and that is a problem." Following a Europa League qualifying defeat in Poland, McInnes had urged his players to be "much more rigorous defensively" and to protect their goal with greater intensity. However, Rangers failed to find defensive cohesion against Hibernian. It was the third different defensive line-up in three games, with Vanya Dragovic conceding a penalty after a challenge on Josh Kerr. The defensive rotation has seen Ben Godfrey, Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Thor Rommens start against Dundee United, with Ross McCrorie replacing Godfrey in Poland, and Dragovic and Oluwato Makhani coming in for McCrorie and Sterling against Hibernian. The coaching staff must resolve this instability quickly, as Rangers' Europa League progression remains in jeopardy ahead of Thursday's return leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok. McInnes described the defeat to Hibernian as "really unfair," claiming Rangers were "the better team" and "deserved more." He added: "This defeat hurts because we came here to win and expected to win. We have to pick ourselves up because this is a blow. The team's reaction in the final part of the game was excellent." Former Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack called the result "disappointing," noting that Rangers failed to create significant chances despite deploying two strikers. He warned that after three winless games, serious questions will be asked, though he acknowledged that new signings require time to gel. McInnes, 55, who built resilient sides at St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Hearts, has now suffered more home league defeats at the start of his Rangers tenure than during his entire time at Hearts. Rangers have signed nine players and the manager intends to strengthen further, but Chermiti's injury—occurring alongside news of a rejected high-value bid for the player—has complicated transfer plans. McInnes stated before the match that the club has made bids for several players and hopes for updates on transfer targets in the coming days.