Derek McInnes faces two Old Firm games in eight days, a sequence that will determine his standing as Rangers manager. The first is a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox next Sunday.
Double Old Firm test
The back-to-back meetings with Celtic have been described as a public trial by sequence of matches for the Rangers boss. The two clubs' disdain for each other is as obvious as it is detrimental to harmonious relations between supporters.
McInnes, who has nearly 20 years in the technical area, will experience his first Old Firm derby as Rangers manager in the cup tie. According to the terminally sceptical, the fixture is the result of an administrative carve-up created by tampering with the scales of justice.
Suspension caveat
McInnes has served a four-game touchline ban, commuted to two matches on appeal. The revised judgment contains an intriguing caveat: the two matches left off his charge sheet will be brought back and suspension time served if he again infringes rule 72 of the disciplinary code, which relates to using inflammatory language, this season.
In other words, McInnes must negotiate two Old Firm games in eight days and resist calling anything “disgusting” – or worse – for fear of more time in the stand. The original sentence was disproportionate, but the revised judgment was accurate in retrospect.
Pressure builds
Two defeats against Celtic would push the pressure on McInnes to an almost intolerable level. The Rangers manager, formerly in charge at Hearts, was indiscreet in May when describing a VAR decision given in Celtic's favour as “disgusting” – a game taking place 30 miles away in Motherwell.
McInnes has spent money on bringing in 14 new players since arriving from Hearts, added to an already substantial wage bill, and lost revenue by failing to qualify for any European competition. Going out of the first cup competition of the new season is not an option.
