Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee United at Tannadice in Derek McInnes' first match at the helm. Lachlan Rose bundled the ball into the net to give United the lead and net the first goal of the Premiership season, but Thelo Aasgaard's moment of magic levelled the game. Rangers failed to push on and secure the opening win of the new era.
Diomande flashpoint and McInnes' protest
Late in the game, Mohamed Diomande went down in the box following a challenge from Emmanuel Agyei. Referee Nick Walsh awarded a goal kick instead of a corner or penalty, and McInnes was quick to voice his displeasure after the full-time whistle. He rushed onto the pitch to confront Walsh, joining a swarm of Rangers players protesting the decision.
McInnes has since admitted he should not have confronted the official, confirming he felt the decision should have been a corner to his side.
Aherne: 'Always cheated, never just defeated'
Appearing on talkSPORT with former Rangers player Andy Halliday, Celtic-daft presenter Shebahn Aherne gave her verdict on McInnes' touchline behaviour.
"Dropping points already in this opening game will be frustrating for McInnes, but I have to say he is box office - having somebody like McInnes up at Rangers," she said. "Because you see him up at the end of the game, already up in the referees and the officials faces - not agreeing with decisions being made. But for me sometimes it comes across that Derek McInnes can seem like always cheated, never just defeated - he has got the attitude about him, this presence. Is that what the guys need, or does he need to simmer down this season?"
Halliday responded: "I think he is a shrewd operator, and I think he has done this at every club he has been at - create almost this siege mentality, that every other club in the country is against them. And that's worked on occasion. He tried that at the end of last season with Hearts before they fell at the last hurdle. He has always been someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, and I think the Rangers fans respond to that. I think they have been quite frustrated with Danny Rohl and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and how they spoke in press conferences. But, Derek McInnes is going to be box office."
