Derek McInnes faces crucial Rangers spell as four-game run could determine his future

Derek McInnes is facing a pivotal period in his Rangers tenure, with sources indicating that the Ibrox boss has been given four major fixtures to demonstrate that he can consistently deliver results.

The Rangers manager endured a difficult opening to the campaign, with disappointing European results quickly putting pressure on his position. The club’s early exits from continental competition were a major setback, and McInnes was made aware that an improvement in results would be required in the weeks ahead.

His four-match assessment period began with Saturday’s meeting with Motherwell at Ibrox, and Rangers made the perfect start by securing a 1-0 victory.

Ryan Naderi’s early goal proved enough to give Rangers another three points and extend their winning run to three matches.

The result has eased some of the immediate pressure on McInnes, but the most demanding part of his upcoming schedule is still to come.

Rangers now face St Mirren before consecutive Old Firm encounters with Celtic. Those fixtures, including a Scottish League Cup meeting and another league clash at Celtic Park, are expected to provide a much greater test of McInnes’ ability to turn the team’s fortunes around.

The victory over Motherwell represented another important step for the manager, who has overseen an improvement in Rangers’ league performances following a disappointing start.

However, the end of the transfer window means attention is now likely to focus even more heavily on McInnes and the results he can produce with the squad at his disposal.

Why is McInnes under pressure at Rangers?

Questions surrounding McInnes’ position emerged despite the club’s recent improvement in domestic form.

Rangers’ failure to qualify for any European competition has been particularly damaging. Defeats against Jagiellonia and Jablonec brought their continental campaign to a premature end and were viewed as a significant blow to the club’s season.

McInnes must now win back the confidence of the Rangers support, with the next three fixtures after Motherwell potentially carrying considerable weight.

Speaking about the situation, the manager’s need for results was emphasised, with the upcoming games against St Mirren and Celtic viewed as especially important.

The pressure would increase significantly if Rangers were to struggle during this run. On the other hand, continuing the recent winning sequence would give McInnes greater breathing room and could begin to change the mood around Ibrox.

The wins against Aberdeen and Falkirk helped steady the situation, while the Motherwell victory provided further momentum. Another positive result against St Mirren would give the manager a much stronger platform heading into the Old Firm fixtures.

Rangers supporters growing restless

McInnes has faced criticism from sections of the Rangers support since taking charge, with expectations understandably high at Ibrox.

Rangers finished third under Danny Rohl last season, meaning supporters were already demanding significant improvement. Their failure to reach the Europa League or Conference League has only intensified those frustrations.

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown has warned that McInnes could find the Rangers support turning against him if results fail to improve.

There have already been signs of dissatisfaction following the club’s disappointing European qualification campaign.

The manager can, however, begin to shift that mood by continuing the progress made in recent weeks.

Three consecutive victories over Aberdeen, Falkirk and Motherwell have provided McInnes with some much-needed stability. If Rangers can add further wins against St Mirren and navigate the two Celtic fixtures successfully, the pressure surrounding his position should ease considerably.

For now, McInnes has steadied the ship. The next four games will determine whether that represents the beginning of a genuine turnaround or simply a temporary reprieve.