Rangers don finally record dema first win under Derek McInnes after dem bin beat St Mirren 5-1 for Ibrox for the Premier Sports Cup. The win na relief for di Govan side wey don dey winless for four matches before this one.
James Penrice, di new left-back wey join from Hearts, don make im mark with style. E score one goal and provide one assist for im debut, and fans don already dey praise am. Di boyhood Rangers fan tell former Hearts teammate Andy Halliday say e be dream debut. “That na dream debut for me. E don be mental week. I no think e fit beta pass this one,” e yarn.
Rangers no too convince for first half, but dem still go two goals up. St Mirren pull one back before break, but for second half, Rangers bin improve well well. Penrice bin show im quality for di 52nd minute when e race down di left side and teed up Djeidi Gassama with perfect first-time pass. Two minutes later, Penrice bin slam in one loose ball from close range to give Rangers three-goal cushion.
Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson talk say Penrice performance na added bonus for di team. “You fit hear am inside di stadium, di shift for how di Rangers fans dey feel. Dis win go give everyone for di club lift,” e tok for BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.
McInnes, wey don work with Penrice for brief spell for Tynecastle before di defender move to Greece, bin happy with im latest recruit. “James come here with freshness. E just go play di game with real enthusiasm but e also get quality. Im quality of defending na good, im decision making, im energy – e see wetin e mean to play for dis club,” McInnes talk for Premier Sports. “Di more players we fit get like dat, di better. I really glad di club allow us to bring am in.”
Dis win na di first for McInnes as Rangers boss, and fans don dey react. Some fans tok say Penrice na good addition, but e still need more consistent performance. One fan James say: “Bright start for James Penrice and I sure e go be good player for Rangers. As team, good result, but one performance no make dem world beaters, consistent performances needed.” Another fan Alexander talk say defence still shaky especially for Fernandez. But e praise Penrice and Gassama.
St Mirren coach Craig McLeish bin tok after di match say dem no fit paint di performance as positive. Di team bin try to play football but na so di game go. Dem don concede five goals, and e admit say lessons need to be learned. St Mirren go now prepare for dema next match against Motherwell.
