Rangers manager Derek McInnes is adamant he can turn things around despite a nightmare start to the season without a win in four matches.
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 opening two 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 will welcome St Mirren to Ibrox on Sunday in a League Cup clash that is must-win for the under-fire manager.
McInnes admitted he did not blame supporters for venting their anger after the Europa League exit, but he is confident his team will come good with a few more quality additions.
"I think they [the fans] need to see something to get behind," McInnes 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," McInnes said. "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," McInnes said. "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," McInnes added. "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," McInnes said. "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 fixture and team form
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 a 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," McInnes said. "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," McInnes said. "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," McInnes added. "Particularly where we are at the minute. We will see who is fit and available."
James Penrice loan signing
With left-back Tuur Rommens potentially out until October with a groin injury, McInnes was eager to get cover in quickly. Rangers completed a loan deal with AEK Athens on Saturday for James 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," Penrice 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. 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," Penrice added. "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 welcomed Penrice to the club, noting the squad's need for reinforcements in defense.
"We're excited to welcome James to the club and believe he will be a very good addition to the squad," McInnes said. "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," McInnes added.
