Rangers rounded off their pre-season schedule with a goalless draw at home to West Ham at Ibrox on Sunday. New manager Derek McInnes saw his side deliver a more complete performance than their midweek win over St Etienne, but the match was overshadowed by a shoulder injury to midfielder Thelo Aasgaard and the absence of new Serbian signing Vanja Dragojevic due to visa issues.
Better performance but work remains
McInnes felt his team showed improvement defensively against a strong West Ham side, creating few chances for the visitors. Rangers could have snatched a win in the second half through Aasgaard and Lawrence Shankland, but lacked creativity in the final third. The manager acknowledged there is still work to do before the Premiership opener at Dundee United on Friday.
Dragojevic waits for debut
The £4 million signing from Partizan Belgrade watched from the stands as his visa was not processed in time. McInnes has a wealth of midfield options including Cammy Devlin, Mo Diomande and Aasgaard, but he is eager to integrate Dragojevic quickly.
Devlin impresses again
Cammy Devlin continued to endear himself to the Rangers support with a high-energy display from midfield. The Australian set the tempo with his tenacity and tackling, reminiscent of Ibrox legend Stuart McCall. He appears certain to start the league opener.
Gassama fails to seize chance
Winger Djeidi Gassama was given an opportunity to impress but his poor end product frustrated McInnes. The former PSG man struggled with simple passes and may be surplus to requirements as Rangers look to offload players.
Aasgaard injury blow
After scoring in midweek, Aasgaard was Rangers' most creative player before landing awkwardly on his shoulder following a run. He forced a save from Mads Hermansen with a free-kick but then went off clutching the shoulder. His availability for the trip to Tannadice is now in doubt.
