Rangers thrash Raith Rovers 5-1 as McInnes era begins with a bang

Rangers hammered Raith Rovers 5-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday as Derek McInnes stepped up his preparations for the new campaign at Ibrox.

The new Gers boss used the bounce match to run the rule over his squad, with summer arrivals Ross McCrorie and Dan Neil both handed minutes against the Championship side.

World Cup absentees

There was no place in the squad for goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, with the £6million stopper not due back at Auchenhowie until later this month after Croatia’s World Cup campaign ended at the hands of Portugal on Friday night.

McInnes was also without a Scotland quartet, with Liam Kelly, John Souttar, Findlay Curtis and Lawrence Shankland all missing from the matchday squad.

Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin and Norway international Thelo Aasgaard also remain unavailable as they continue their involvement at the World Cup, with both nations through to the last 16.

Spain trip planned

McInnes is set to take his squad to Spain for a warm-weather training camp, having scrapped a previously arranged trip to Austria that had been put in place under former manager Danny Rohl.

The change in plans underlines the fresh direction McInnes is looking to take at Ibrox as he builds towards the new season with his own methods and personnel.

Rout at Ibrox

Rangers were given every chance to impress in the closed-doors clash and duly delivered, racing into a two-goal half-time lead through Lyall Cameron and Tuur Rommens, as reported by the Rangers Review.

McCrorie marked his return to the club with a goal after the interval, before Nedim Bajrami and Ryan Naderi added further strikes to make it a comfortable afternoon for the Light Blues.

Raith Rovers did grab a late consolation from the penalty spot, but the result will have given McInnes plenty of encouragement as he continues building his squad ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season.

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