Derek McInnes had been open about his frustration. Three games into the Scottish Premiership season, two wins in seven matches across all competitions, a humbling European exit at the hands of Jablonec in Conference League qualifying — the Rangers job was beginning to look like anything but the dream opportunity he had accepted in the summer. Then came Sunday's trip to Pittodrie, and everything felt, just slightly, more manageable.

A second-half penalty from Lawrence Shankland settled a scrappy, unconvincing contest in Rangers' favour, earning McInnes his first league victory in the Ibrox dugout. It was, by most accounts, far from a statement performance. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton was direct in his assessment, calling it a "bitty performance" while still acknowledging it might represent a "turning point" for a manager under mounting scrutiny.

McInnes was not about to oversell it, but he was clearly relieved — and not just for the obvious reasons. The Pittodrie ground holds significant personal meaning: he spent eight years there as manager, building considerable goodwill in the north-east. Returning as the opposing boss and leaving with three points would have mattered to him.

"Contrasting feelings from Thursday night," McInnes told reporters afterwards. "Probably for the first time this season, I really, really enjoyed watching the team. You need to compete and bring quality, and I thought we did all that."

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd struck a more pragmatic note on Sky Sports: "Rangers came up here and got three points — that was the most important thing." McInnes echoed that sentiment, admitting he would have "taken any win" after the midweek nightmare in Europe.

Kim Min-su impresses on debut

There was genuine encouragement in the performance of Kim Min-su, a 20-year-old South Korean winger who arrived from Girona for a reported fee of £8.5 million and was thrown straight into the starting eleven after just one training session with his new team-mates. Alongside Djeidi Gassama, Kim was Rangers' most threatening attacking player on the day, and McInnes was effusive in his praise, saying the new recruit offers a "much-needed dose of quality".

Boyd, however, used the occasion to raise broader concerns about Rangers' bloated squad. The Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin was again absent from the matchday squad, with speculation swirling about his future at the club. McInnes insisted no bid has been received for the player, which only deepened Boyd's frustration.

"If there's not been any bids for Raskin, get him in your team because he's your best midfielder by a country mile," Boyd said. "Rangers must have over 30 players — it's not sustainable."

Another signing on the horizon

McInnes also hinted that further reinforcements in attack are imminent, with Rangers scrambling to replace Youssef Chermiti following the striker's long-term injury. The club have been linked with Portland Timbers' Kevin Kelsy, though the Rangers manager stopped short of naming his target publicly.

"We're pretty close on that one," McInnes said. "Hopefully we can get our target in before Wednesday's game."

That game — a trip to Falkirk — arrives quickly, and McInnes knows the significance of building momentum. He pointed to last season as evidence that a slow start need not be fatal in the title race, with Rangers having clawed their way back into contention from a significant deficit on one occasion. Whether this Pittodrie win represents genuine progress or simply a stay of execution remains to be seen.

For now, the manager will take the three points, the promising debut of Kim Min-su, and the breathing space that comes with a winning run of one. The window is still open, the squad still needs trimming, and the questions about Raskin remain unanswered. McInnes has bought himself time — the question is whether he uses it wisely.

Frequently asked

Who scored for Rangers against Aberdeen?
Lawrence Shankland scored from the penalty spot in the second half to give Rangers a narrow victory at Pittodrie in the Scottish Premiership.
Who is Kim Min-su and how much did Rangers pay for him?
Kim Min-su is a 20-year-old South Korean winger signed from Girona for a reported fee of £8.5 million. He impressed on his debut at Pittodrie after just one training session with his new team-mates.
Is Derek McInnes under pressure at Rangers?
McInnes came into the Aberdeen game having won just two of his first seven matches in charge, including a Conference League qualifying exit to Jablonec. The Pittodrie win eased some of that pressure, but pundits and fans remain cautious about Rangers' overall performance levels.