McInnes defends 'big part' player Fernandez

What the report says

Rangers manager Derek McInnes has publicly backed defender Emmanuel Fernandez after the centre-back drew criticism for errors in recent high-profile matches. Speaking after Wednesday’s 2-2 Scottish Premiership draw with Hearts at Tynecastle, McInnes said Fernandez had been an important contributor to some of Rangers’ stronger performances this season and argued that the criticism has focused too heavily on his mistakes.

The BBC Sport report says Fernandez, 25, had been singled out after a number of poor moments, but McInnes pointed to the Nigeria international’s display in Saturday’s win over St Johnstone as evidence of his value. He stressed that the latest result was a team issue rather than one player’s fault, and suggested supporters and media had overlooked the defender’s better games.

The comments come as Rangers turn their attention to Saturday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden. McInnes said the club will need a strong 90-minute performance if they are to progress, even if they are seen as favourites. He also expressed sympathy for Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson, noting the pressure managers face and the challenge of knockout football, where form can matter less than on the day. In general, the remarks underline both the scrutiny on individual Rangers players and the importance of the coming semi-final for the club’s season.