RANGERS FANS CREATE NEW CHANT THAT QUICKLY ERUPTED AROUND THE STADIUM AFTER STUNNING ST MIRREN VICTORY – CRAIG McLEISH REACTS TO THE IBROX ATMOSPHERE

Rangers supporters had plenty to celebrate at Ibrox on Sunday as their side finally produced the kind of performance they had been demanding, smashing St Mirren 5–1 to book their place in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals.

For a club that had endured a hugely frustrating opening to the season, the result could hardly have arrived at a better time.

There had been mounting pressure surrounding Derek McInnes after Rangers struggled to find consistency during the opening weeks of the campaign. The manager had yet to record a victory in his first four matches, while the early European disappointment had only intensified scrutiny around his position.

But against the reigning cup holders, Rangers delivered a completely different performance.

And by the time the final whistle arrived, the mood inside Ibrox had changed dramatically.

The home supporters had watched their team race into a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes, with Ryan Naderi opening the scoring before Vanja Dragojevic doubled the advantage.

St Mirren briefly threatened to turn the match on its head when Chris Mochrie pulled one back before half-time.

But Rangers came out after the interval with another level of intensity.

Djeidi Gassama restored the two-goal advantage shortly after the restart, before James Penrice made an immediate impact on his Rangers debut by scoring to make it 4–1.

Ross McCausland then added a fifth in the second half to complete a statement victory.

The result ended Rangers’ winless run and, more importantly, sent them through to the next round of the competition.

And while the headlines will inevitably focus on the five goals, it was the transformation in the atmosphere around Ibrox that arguably told the bigger story.

Just days earlier, sections of the Rangers support had been openly frustrated by what they had seen from their team.

There had been genuine concerns about the direction of the season, with supporters questioning whether McInnes could quickly turn things around.

Suddenly, however, the conversation had changed.

The players were attacking with greater confidence. The movement was sharper. The intensity was higher. And the Rangers support responded.

The atmosphere inside the stadium became increasingly positive as the goals continued to arrive.

By the time McCausland scored the fifth, Ibrox was in full celebration mode.

The contrast could hardly have been greater.

This was supposed to be a dangerous cup tie for Rangers. St Mirren entered the match as the holders and had started the domestic season impressively.

Their manager Craig McLeish had even warned before the game that there was never an easy time to visit Ibrox, despite Rangers’ difficult start under McInnes.

McLeish’s pre-match comments now look particularly significant.

He had refused to accept the idea that Rangers were vulnerable simply because they had struggled in their opening matches. Instead, he highlighted the quality available to McInnes and insisted that playing Rangers or Celtic away from home always represented an enormous challenge.

Unfortunately for St Mirren, his prediction proved correct.

Rangers were simply too strong.

Penrice was one of the biggest talking points after the match. The new arrival marked his debut with a goal and an assist, immediately giving the home supporters something new to get excited about.

Gassama also impressed, while Dragojevic’s early goal provided another major positive for McInnes.

There was even a late penalty drama when St Mirren had an opportunity to reduce the deficit, but Rangers goalkeeper Ismael Pandur saved the retaken spot-kick.

The final scoreline therefore remained 5–1.

And perhaps the most important part of the afternoon for Rangers was not simply the five goals.

It was the feeling that something had finally clicked.

McInnes desperately needed a response from his players, and he got one.

The Rangers manager can now point to a convincing cup victory as evidence that his squad is beginning to understand what he wants from them.

Of course, one result does not suddenly solve every problem.

There are still questions surrounding Rangers’ consistency, their defensive organisation and whether this performance can be repeated when they face stronger opposition.

But momentum matters.

And Rangers now have it.

The victory also sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Celtic at Ibrox, adding another enormous fixture to what is already shaping up to be a fascinating campaign.

For St Mirren, meanwhile, the afternoon represented a brutal end to their cup defence.

The Buddies arrived at Ibrox hoping to prove that their impressive start to the campaign was no fluke.

Instead, they found themselves completely overwhelmed after Rangers shifted through the gears.

And that is perhaps the biggest takeaway from the afternoon.

Rangers supporters came into the match desperate for a response.

They left Ibrox with five goals, a place in the quarter-finals and renewed optimism surrounding their team.

Whatever chants were heard around the stadium, the loudest message from the Rangers support was unmistakable:

This season is far from over.

For McInnes, that may be the most important victory of all.

The pressure has not disappeared completely, but after four difficult matches, Rangers finally gave their supporters something to shout about.

And judging by the noise inside Ibrox after the fifth goal, the Rangers faithful were more than ready to celebrate.