Rangers boss Derek McInnes is adamant that he can turn things around despite a nightmare start to the new season.
The Ibrox side crashed out of the Europa League qualifiers on Thursday night after losing 3-2 on aggregate to Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland.
Rangers have also failed to win either of their two opening league matches and already trail Celtic by five points in the title race.
McInnes has yet to taste victory across his four matches in charge and a section of the support turned against the manager and his players on Thursday night.
Rangers, who completed the loan signing of left-back James Penrice on Saturday, will welcome St Mirren to Ibrox on Sunday in a League Cup clash which is must-win for the under-fire manager.
McInnes admitted that he didn’t blame supporters for venting their anger after the Europa League exit but is confident his team will come good with a few more quality additions.
Derek McInnes is without a win in four games as Rangers manager
‘I think they [the fans] need to see something to get behind,’ he said. ‘And they need to see action. They need to see a team who are better than what they were on Thursday night.
‘I think there were moments. I think there were moments in the four games that were mentioned. But it’s nowhere near enough.
‘So nobody is sitting here and asking for understanding and patience. I understand the frustrations of that and how it starts to build. It [the stadium] is somewhere to vent that.
‘But they should be seeing a better performance — and we’ll aim to give them that on Sunday against St Mirren.
‘It’s not been the start we wanted but the intention is still to have the outcome that we wanted before the season started. We’re still working hard towards that — and we’ve got money to spend.
‘We’ve got good ownership. We’ve got a lot of younger players. What we could do with is just a wee bit of help and to get a few more in the door.
‘We need to try and win games as we go along. Because if you don’t win games, everything becomes so much more difficult. Everything gets scrutinised when you don’t win games.
‘That’s just par for the course. So that’s not going to change. The only thing that has to change is getting more winning performances. And hopefully we can have that Sunday.’
St Mirren have started the season in good form, winning five of six matches in all competitions, as well as both of their league matches so far.
They will arrive at Ibrox in confident mood and McInnes warned his players that they will have to rise to the challenge.
‘I’ve watched St Mirren in the last couple of games,’ said McInnes. ‘I obviously they’ve changed how they want to play this season.
‘They stayed up by the skin of their teeth last season. And you have to say they’ve had two strong performances so far.
‘There’s a lot of players there that I know and I have a good idea of how they want to play the game come Sunday.
‘I think they’ll come here on the back in a couple of wins qualifying for the League Cup and through the group stages and come here confident.
‘So we’ve got work to do and we need more full attention. Particularly where we are at the minute. We will see who is fit and available.’
With Tuur Rommens potentially out until October with a groin injury, manager McInnes was eager to get cover in quickly and the club completed a loan deal with AEK Athens for Penrice, with an option to buy.
The 27-year-old former Partick Thistle and Livingston player won the Greek title after leaving Hearts last summer.
‘It’s a bit surreal,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long time since I came through the building here as a youth player, but I’m delighted to finally get it done.
Left-back James Penrice has joined on loan from AEK Athens
‘It’s somewhere where at the start of my career I could only have dreamt of coming to play. It’s a dream now to get the chance to represent the club.
‘I’ve been involved in Scotland for a while and you know what comes with the name. There’s only one objective and that’s to win stuff. When you don’t, there comes pressure. I’m fully aware of what is expected here.’
McInnes added: ‘We’re excited to welcome James to the club and believe he will be a very good addition to the squad.
‘He plays in an area of the pitch where we are currently a little light, so it was important that we brought in someone who can bolster us in that position and provide competition.
‘James already has valuable experience of the Scottish Premiership and understands the demands of the club, and from speaking to him it was clear he is hungry to work hard and continue progressing in his career.’
