McInnes' Rangers serve up stodgy 12-course banquet of huff and puff

What the report says

Rangers earned a narrow first-leg win over Jablonec in their Conference League play-off, leaving them with a 1-0 advantage to protect in next week’s return leg. BBC Sport Football’s Tom English said the result at Ibrox was achieved without much style, describing a match in which Rangers struggled to create clear chances and were often met by a compact but limited Jablonec side.

The report focused on Rangers’ lack of fluency in attack and the frustration inside the stadium as the home team laboured through long spells of possession without much movement or invention. Ryan Naderi’s goal was the key moment that settled the contest, while the piece also noted useful displays from players including Djeidi Gassama, James Penrice and Olwethu Makhanya. Rangers kept a clean sheet, but the win was nearly complicated by Cammy Devlin’s late red card for a reckless challenge.

The article placed the performance in the wider context of Rangers’ recent rebuilding under Derek McInnes, who has overseen a run of signings and major spending since the club’s new ownership arrived. While the piece stressed that patience remains inside the club, it questioned whether the investment has yet produced a team with enough creativity or cohesion. The result keeps Rangers’ European hopes alive, but the performance raised familiar concerns about their ability to turn resources into a more convincing side.