THE RISE OF DEREK MCINNES AT IBROX

From pressure and questions to back-to-back Old Firm victories

There was a point, not all that long ago, when Derek McInnes’ Rangers tenure looked like it was heading in a very different direction.

The questions were coming thick and fast.

The performances weren’t convincing, results weren’t coming consistently and the European exit to Jablonec only increased the pressure.

After just two wins in seven matches, McInnes was under serious scrutiny and Rangers supporters were entitled to wonder where this season was heading.

But football can change incredibly quickly.

And perhaps the biggest story surrounding Rangers right now isn’t the difficult start.

It’s the transformation since it.

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From Aberdeen to belief

The victory at Aberdeen on August 30 might not have been remembered as a classic Rangers performance, but it could prove to be one of the most important results of McInnes’ tenure so far.

A Lawrence Shankland penalty secured McInnes’ first Scottish Premiership victory as Rangers manager, giving the team something it desperately needed — a result to build from.

From there, things began to change.

Rangers followed that with victories over Motherwell and St Mirren, making it four consecutive wins in all competitions and, more importantly, beginning to demonstrate the intensity and mentality McInnes had been demanding.

Then came the game that changed the conversation completely.

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3-0 AGAINST CELTIC

On September 13, Rangers produced arguably their most complete performance of the season.

A 3-0 victory over Celtic at Ibrox.

Dan Neil scored twice and Kevin Kelsy added another as Rangers dominated their rivals and booked their place in the League Cup semi-finals. Sky Sports highlighted Rangers’ aggressive man-for-man press as a major factor in Celtic struggling to create opportunities.

Suddenly, the questions surrounding McInnes weren’t quite as loud.

But there was still another test waiting.

Parkhead.

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And then we did it again.

Seven days later, Rangers travelled across Glasgow knowing that Celtic would be desperate for a response.

Instead, McInnes’ Rangers produced another disciplined performance.

Ryan Naderi’s first-half goal was enough to secure a 1-0 victory at Celtic Park, giving Rangers consecutive Old Firm victories in the space of just seven days.

And this wasn’t simply about beating Celtic.

It was about how Rangers managed the occasion.

They absorbed pressure, defended their lead, created opportunities of their own and showed a level of resilience that wasn’t always evident during the opening weeks of the campaign.

Opta reported that Rangers had 15 attempts to Celtic’s five, with eight Rangers efforts on target compared with just one from the home side.

For McInnes, there was also a remarkable piece of history.

He became only the second Rangers manager to win his first two Old Firm derbies, following Graeme Souness in 1986.

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The mentality has changed

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect for Rangers supporters is that this doesn’t look like a team simply relying on one or two individuals.

There appears to be a growing sense of togetherness.

The squad has had to deal with injuries, new signings bedding in, players fighting for positions and the pressure that comes with playing for Rangers.

Yet the performances have gradually become more structured.

More aggressive.

More disciplined.

And perhaps most importantly, more confident.

That is the biggest change we have seen under McInnes.

When things weren’t going well, Rangers looked like a team searching for answers.

Now they look increasingly like a team that believes it has the answers.

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McInnes’ biggest achievement so far?

It isn’t the two victories over Celtic.

It isn’t even the winning run.

It’s the fact that he appears to have managed to turn a difficult opening period into something that is beginning to resemble momentum.

Rangers have now won five consecutive league matches, and after the victory at Celtic Park they moved within two points of the league leaders.

That doesn’t mean the job is finished.

Far from it.

There is still a long season ahead, and Rangers will have to demonstrate this level of consistency against every opponent — not just Celtic.

But the direction of travel has changed dramatically.

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From panic to belief

A few weeks ago, there were genuine concerns about where Rangers were heading.

Today, supporters are talking about what this team might achieve.

That’s football.

That’s Rangers.

And that’s why McInnes deserves credit for the way his tenure has developed over the past few weeks.

He didn’t walk into an easy situation. He walked into a club where expectations are enormous and patience is often tested quickly.

But instead of allowing the difficult start to define his tenure, his Rangers side have responded.

Four wins became five.

A 3-0 Old Firm victory became a 1-0 Old Firm victory at Parkhead.

And a manager who was facing questions is now beginning to build something that Rangers supporters can believe in.

The rise of Derek McInnes at Ibrox is still in its early stages.

But after the last few weeks, one thing is becoming increasingly clear:

This Rangers team is starting to look like Derek McInnes’ Rangers.

And that could be very interesting indeed

Baz HATW1872