Aasgaard earns draw for Rangers in Derek McInnes’s first match in charge
Thelo Aasgaard’s second-half strike secured a 1-1 draw for Rangers against Dundee United, offering a measured but incomplete start to Derek McInnes’s managerial tenure as the club seeks to rebuild its competitive momentum.
Thelo Aasgaard scored a second-half equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw for Rangers against Dundee United at Tannadice. The result marks Derek McInnes’s first point as the club’s new manager following a disjointed opening period.
Dundee United took a half-time lead through Lachlan Rose, who capitalised on a misplaced Rangers centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez to fire a left-footed effort off the post and over the line in the 38th minute. Rangers struggled for control in possession during the first half, managing only a reaction save from United goalkeeper Jack Walton via a Lawrence Shankland flick.
The visitors showed immediate improvement after the interval following tactical adjustments from McInnes. Substitutes Youssef Chermiti and Dan Neil were introduced, and Aasgaard levelled the score in the 56th minute. He controlled a high ball under pressure from Joshua Rawlins before firing a precise left-footed strike into the top corner from 16 yards.
Despite the renewed threat, Rangers failed to sustain their momentum. Dundee United nearly won the match with eight minutes remaining when substitute Daniel Bennie played Jesse Randall clean through on goal. The New Zealand international lacked conviction, dinking his shot directly into the hands of Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
The draw highlights the transitional phase under McInnes, who handed debuts to Pandur, Ben Godfrey, Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland. Shankland, the former Hearts striker, was also named the new Rangers captain. Notably, only two Scottish players featured in the combined starting lineups, with former Falkirk midfielder Dylan Tait captaining Dundee United.
For Rangers, securing a point away from home provides a baseline of institutional stability, though the inability to close out the game underscores the work required to restore the squad's dominance. Consistent results will be critical for the club’s commercial and competitive standing as McInnes attempts to reshape the team's identity and on-field performance.
