Glasgow | Rangers held in season opener
Dundee United 1 - 1 Rangers
Rangers have fail to win their season opener for the fourth successive year. For Dundee United, this was a solid draw and performance.
Author | Mark Lee
Stadium | Tannadice Park
Lachlan Rose scored his fourth goal of the season to give the hosts a deserved half-time lead, before Thelo Aasgaard produced a superb equaliser for Rangers 11 minutes after the restart.
Having come within minutes of winning the Premiership title with Hearts last season, Derek McInnes moved along the M8 to replace Danny Rohl at Ibrox in June. Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland and Australia midfielder Cammy Devlin followed him from Tynecastle.
How the Derek McInnes era got off to an underwhelming start
The new-look Rangers flattered to deceive during a first half in which Dundee United gradually took control.
The visitors made a bright start, with Shankland seeing a backheel well saved by United goalkeeper Jack Walton, but the hosts soon grew into the contest and deservedly went ahead with a fine team move.
Zac Sapsford stepped over Jesse Randall's cross from the right, allowing Rose to guide a left-footed finish into the bottom corner and beyond Rangers debutant Ivor Pandur.
Rangers improved markedly after the interval, with McInnes introducing Dan Neil and Youssef Chermiti at half-time. Walton was called upon to make a couple of sharp saves before Aasgaard produced a moment of genuine quality to bring the visitors level.
The Norway midfielder's first touch created the space he needed before he lashed a powerful left-footed strike beyond Walton's despairing dive.
The game became increasingly open as both sides searched for a winner, but it was United who passed up the clearest chance to claim all three points.
The New Zealand winger Randall inexplicably dinked his effort straight at Pandur after Daniel Bennie's delightful pass had sent him through on goal. In the end, both sides had to settle for a point.
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