Bojan Miovski's stoppage-time strike secured a 1-0 win over St Mirren on Wednesday night, extending Rangers' winning run to four games and giving Derek McInnes a timely boost ahead of Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Celtic.
The North Macedonian forward had been the forgotten man at Ibrox for much of the summer, but his 91st-minute lob proved decisive. Of the roughly 1,000 minutes Rangers have played this season, Miovski had been afforded just 54 before that moment.
Summer uncertainty behind him
Miovski appeared surplus to requirements in Govan, having fallen to fifth in the pecking order behind Lawrence Shankland, Youssef Chermiti, Ryan Naderi and £9million new boy Kevin Kelsy. But with captain Shankland and Chermiti both ruled out for the foreseeable future, the 27-year-old now has a major role to play.
McInnes admitted the striker had been unsettled during the transfer window, with Miovski even revealing on social media that he had parted ways with his former agents and would represent himself going forward.
Experience in a young forward line
McInnes praised Miovski's know-how, saying: "It was a brilliant ending to the game, because - we have got to be honest - it didn't look like it was coming. St Mirren were the better team for the last part of the second half. But Bojan comes up with a big moment for us, a lovely finish that turns one point into three, which is vitally important for us."
He added: "I thought we were fortunate to have someone that has his prowess, his experience, his know-how of Scottish football. His goals per minute ratio is really strong in the Premiership. But for a long period through that transfer window, he probably thought he would have to go elsewhere to get regular football. But such is the way things change in football. With Youssef and Lawrence's long-term injuries, having Bojan in the building is a godsend for me."
McInnes also highlighted the youth of his forward line, noting that Naderi is 22, Kelsy is 22, Minsu Kim and Findlay Curtis are 20, and Badredine Bouanani is 21. He stressed the need for greater ruthlessness in front of goal, saying: "One goal was enough against St Mirren, Aberdeen and Motherwell, two against Falkirk. But it might not be against Celtic. So we've got to recognise and be ruthless and more instinctive with some of our attacking players."
Bond forming in the dressing room
McInnes spoke of the unity within the squad after the late win, saying: "Yeah, lots of cuddles going on weren't there? There was lots of bonding but I see a bunch of boys who are just desperate to do well. I do think maybe for a period there at the start of the window there was maybe too many conversations, too many people maybe looking elsewhere and seeing what was going on and not really sure what was happening. But since the Aberdeen game, there's been a real bond between them all."
He concluded: "We've got some good boys here who need all the help and support from me and my staff and from everybody at the club and hopefully together we can make this a successful period at the club."
