Michael Stewart is shocked by the ‘bizarre’ decision made by Derek McInnes in Rangers’ win over St Mirren.

Michael Stewart has admitted he was stunned by a “bizarre” tactical decision made by Rangers manager Derek McInnes during the Gers’ emphatic 5-1 League Cup victory over St Mirren.

McInnes was under pressure to deliver a response after Rangers’ difficult start, and progressing in the League Cup represented an important opportunity to get the season moving in the right direction. Rangers ultimately produced the result they needed, securing an impressive five-goal victory.

The Gers started brightly and quickly established control of the contest. Two first-half goals put them in a strong position, although St Mirren managed to pull one back before the interval. That goal briefly raised concerns among the Rangers support, particularly after the visitors had shown they could exploit weaknesses in the home side.

However, those concerns were eventually put to rest as Rangers produced a dominant second-half display. Three further goals ensured there would be no dramatic comeback, with McInnes able to watch his side secure a comfortable 5-1 triumph.

Despite the convincing final scoreline, one particular tactical decision from Rangers caught Stewart’s attention during the match.

At one point, James Penrice moved into a much more advanced position on the left wing, while Djeidi Gassama dropped deeper to operate at left-back. The unusual switch immediately stood out to Stewart, who questioned the logic behind Rangers defending in that shape.

Speaking during Premier Sports’ coverage, Stewart described the situation as “bizarre” and warned that Rangers could easily have been exposed had St Mirren taken advantage of the positioning.

“James Penrice is pressing high up on the left-wing and Gassama was back at left-back,” Stewart explained.

He then highlighted how quickly Rangers could have been punished if St Mirren had won possession in the right area.

“If Jayden Richardson wins that ball against Makhanya, Rangers are cut wide open from a goal kick,” Stewart added.

The issue was particularly noticeable because Rangers had sufficient time to reorganise. The ball had gone out of play for a goal kick, meaning the players had an opportunity to return to their normal positions before St Mirren restarted the game.

That made the tactical decision appear deliberate rather than simply the result of Rangers being caught out during a fast transition.

Ordinarily, when a team is preparing to defend a goal kick, players are expected to be positioned within their defensive structure. Instead, Rangers appeared willing to take a significant risk, leaving Gassama in a defensive position while Penrice remained high up the pitch.

Stewart’s criticism was understandable given the potential consequences. Gassama is primarily viewed as an attacking player and is not necessarily regarded as a natural defensive option. Leaving him at full-back while Penrice pushed forward could therefore have created a significant opening for St Mirren.

On this occasion, Rangers avoided punishment, but the incident demonstrated how quickly an unusual tactical decision could have turned against McInnes.

The Rangers manager will certainly be pleased with the eventual scoreline, but the moment highlighted that there are still areas of his team’s organisation that require attention.

The victory itself was nevertheless a major positive for Rangers. After a difficult opening period under McInnes, the five-goal performance provided the kind of response the manager and supporters were hoping to see.

There were also signs that Rangers looked considerably more dangerous in attack. They created several opportunities and appeared more energetic and direct in the final third.

Gassama was particularly unfortunate not to add his name to the scoresheet before St Mirren pulled one goal back. His effort shortly before the visitors’ goal struck the crossbar, denying Rangers what would have been a third goal and potentially changing the complexion of the match even further.

Instead, St Mirren took advantage of a Rangers mistake to reduce the deficit. Nicolas Raskin and Vanja Dragojevic were involved in the midfield mix-up that ultimately allowed the Buddies back into the contest.

It was another example of Rangers making life unnecessarily difficult for themselves. Having controlled the opening stages and built a two-goal advantage, they handed St Mirren a route back into the match through their own error.

Thankfully for McInnes, Rangers responded impressively after the break.

The second half belonged largely to the Gers, who showed a much better level of composure and efficiency in front of goal. Rather than allowing St Mirren’s goal to affect their confidence, Rangers increased their attacking pressure and eventually turned the game into a rout.

Three second-half goals completed a convincing 5-1 victory and gave McInnes plenty of reasons to be encouraged.

The performance suggests Rangers may be beginning to look more comfortable under their new manager as the games progress. Their attacking play was more dynamic, their movement caused St Mirren problems, and their finishing was considerably sharper after the interval.

Nevertheless, Stewart’s observation serves as a reminder that the performance was not flawless.

Rangers cannot afford to repeatedly expose themselves with unconventional defensive decisions, particularly against stronger opposition. While the gamble involving Penrice and Gassama went unpunished at this stage, a better team could potentially exploit the same weakness.

For now, however, McInnes can focus on the positives. Rangers advanced with a comprehensive 5-1 victory, scored freely and showed the attacking improvement their supporters have been demanding.

The challenge now is to build on that performance while eliminating the defensive lapses and tactical risks that could cause problems in future matches.