McInnes to scrap plan, Ibrox fave to be axed – Rangers predicted XI vs St Mirren

Saturday night football in Paisley has a particular feel. The floodlights are on, the crowd is close to the pitch, and a visiting side that arrives with momentum finds out quickly whether that momentum is real. Rangers travel to face St Mirren in exactly that situation: unbeaten for eleven games in all competitions, comfortable in their rhythm under Derek McInnes, and yet facing a home side that is hard to play against and has spent much of the season being underestimated.

The timing adds to the interest. Ibrox News published a piece on Thursday evening with the headline “McInnes to scrap plan, Ibrox fave to be axed”, a predicted XI that promises changes to the shape of the team and the omission of a popular player. The detail of that article was not available when this preview was written, so this piece does not claim to know who the unlucky player is or what plan the headline refers to. What it can do is lay out the facts that shape the decision: who is fit, who is struggling, where the team has been vulnerable, and what a sensible manager might do with that information.

The preview below covers the context of the season so far, the recent history between the two clubs, the injury and availability picture, the key tactical questions at each end of the pitch, and a predicted lineup. That lineup is this article’s own judgement and is labelled as such throughout. It is not a leak and it is not a quote from the manager.

The McInnes Era So Far

Derek McInnes was appointed Rangers manager on 17 June 2026, replacing Danny Rohl. He inherited a squad and a club that had just endured a difficult stretch, including European disappointment, and he was asked to stabilise a team while also rebuilding it. The summer that followed was busy. According to one report, Rangers spent around £35 million on fourteen new signings, which is an enormous turnover for a single window and explains why the squad has taken time to settle.

The start was not smooth. In mid-August, with the season only days old, a preview noted that Rangers had not won a competitive match under McInnes and that pressure was already building. That changed in the League Cup, when Rangers beat St Mirren at Ibrox, a result that gave the new manager his first win in charge. The campaign has been markedly better since. By early September, wins over Aberdeen, Falkirk and Motherwell had lifted the side to fourth in the table, and the sequence of results has continued. Rangers now carry an eleven-match unbeaten run into this fixture.

That is not to say everything has been perfect. There was a painful European exit, with defeat to Jablonec in the Conference League described at the time as crushing. There have also been periods of heavy injury trouble. In August, McInnes was without seven players for the League Cup tie, which forced him into a makeshift selection. And McInnes himself has pointed more than once to the youthful age of his squad, a comment that has led to suggestions that he would like to add some experience in the winter window, with the name of Joe Aribo mentioned in the speculation.

Still, the overall direction is positive. A manager who began with no wins now leads an unbeaten side, and the question for Saturday is whether he can keep that run going on one of the more awkward trips in the league.

St Mirren Under Craig McLeish

St Mirren are a different proposition from the side many outsiders imagine. Craig McLeish took the job permanently in early June after Stephen Robinson departed, and he has leaned into a pragmatic, organised style that suits the club’s strengths. They defend in numbers, use wing-backs to supply the width, and rely heavily on set pieces and quick transitions to cause problems.

Their early-season form was strong. Before the first league meeting with Rangers in September, St Mirren had already won both of their away games, a notable contrast with the previous season in which they won only three away matches in total. At that point they sat third in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Rangers. They have the kind of squad that does not look glamorous on paper but works hard for each other: Chapman in goal, Gogic and Fieldson in defence, and a midfield that has featured names like Carr and Nsio. Further forward, Killian Phillips has been a significant threat, scoring four goals in four appearances at one stage.

However, the picture has become less rosy more recently. One match preview published ahead of this fixture described St Mirren as misfiring, and that fits with a home side that will be desperate to find a result against a team that has had their number. St Mirren have failed to win any of their last six games against Rangers. For a club with real pride in its home form, that is a record they will want to change.

The Recent History Between the Teams

The two sides have met several times already this season, which gives this fixture an unusual layer of familiarity.

The most notable meeting was the League Cup tie at Ibrox in August, a match that Rangers won 5-1. The scoreline made headlines, partly because of the manner of the win and partly because of its significance for McInnes. It was the result that ended his winless start and, according to Ibrox News, it gave Rangers a psychological advantage in subsequent meetings.

Six goals in a single match is also a reminder that these two teams can produce open games. Ahead of their league meeting at Ibrox on 9 September, one preview highlighted exactly that, tipping over 2.5 goals on the strength of the high-scoring cup tie. It is a sensible warning for anyone assuming that a visit to Paisley will be a low-key, scrappy affair.

There is also the broader trend. Taking all recent meetings together, St Mirren have not found a way past Rangers in six attempts. Predictions for the weekend are leaning the same way: one forecast has Rangers winning 1-0. But history is not destiny, and a side with nothing to lose in front of its own supporters can be dangerous.

Team News: Who Is In and Who Is Out

The availability picture is, as ever, one of the main drivers of selection, and this week brings a mix of good and bad news for McInnes.

On the positive side, two players who were doubts are now expected to be available. Badredine Bouanani had a bout of illness earlier in the week, and Emmanuel Fernandez picked up a knock, but McInnes has indicated that both should be fit to face St Mirren. That is a significant relief, particularly in the case of Fernandez, who has been a consistent presence in the back line and a threat at set pieces.

On the negative side, Ross McCrorie is ruled out until the end of next week and will miss this game. Daisuke Yokota is recovering from a groin injury and is not expected back before the end of November. Taken together with the absentees on the St Mirren side, one report counted eleven players missing across the two clubs.

There is also the unresolved question of strikers. Lawrence Shankland, the captain, sustained a hamstring injury in early September and was described at that stage as unlikely to play any part in the near term. His current status was not clear from the material available for this article, so it is not assumed in the predicted XI below. The arrival of Kevin Kelsy in a late move gave Rangers significant extra options at centre-forward, and Ryan Naderi has already shown he can lead the line.

McInnes did also speak this week about two players he would like to retain for the longer term. He named defender James Penrice and winger Findlay Curtis, both of whom have received Scotland call-ups. Penrice is on a short-term deal from his parent club and is due to return there at the end of the season unless Rangers can make the move permanent, which McInnes has said is the plan. The manager described him as a key part of his tactical set-up because of his ability to play at left-back or in midfield. Curtis, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Kilmarnock last season, has often been used from the bench to help close out games or chase them, and McInnes is keen to extend his future too.

Those comments are relevant to selection in one respect: both players are in good standing with the manager, which makes it unlikely that either is the “fave to be axed” in the headline, though that is an inference and not a fact.

The Midfield Question

If there is one area where McInnes has a real decision to make, it is the middle of the pitch.

Rangers were reported to have been overrun in midfield in their recent match against Aberdeen, and the natural response is to add more structure and ball-winning power. One preview suggested that Dan Neil could come back into the eleven for exactly that reason. Neil offers a more disciplined, positional presence, and against a St Mirren side that likes to compete physically and attack the second ball, that kind of solidity could be valuable.

The more difficult question is what to do with the player alongside him. Nicolas Raskin has been central to Rangers’ approach, but earlier in the season there were mixed reports about his form and focus, including an Ibrox News piece in September that suggested he might be left out and raised questions about his attitude following a transfer decision. Whether those concerns have since faded or whether they remain a factor in selection is not something this article can settle. Raskin remains a high-quality player, and a manager unbeaten in eleven is unlikely to make dramatic changes for the sake of it.

There is a case for each option. Keeping Raskin gives Rangers a creative passer who can break lines and set the tempo. Dropping him for a more defensive partner for Neil would give the team extra security against a side that thrives in transition. McInnes has shown in recent weeks that he is willing to adapt his shape to the opposition, and Paisley, with its tight pitch and aggressive crowd, is the kind of venue that rewards control over flair.

The wide and advanced midfield spots are less contentious. Curtis has been a useful option, Gassama has featured in recent predicted lineups, and Bouanani returning from illness gives McInnes another creative alternative between the lines. The challenge is balance: too many attackers and the team is exposed; too few and it struggles to make chances against a deep block.

At the Back: A Settled Unit

One thing Ibrox News said earlier in the season is worth repeating: McInnes appears to have found his defensive recipe. The back line that has served him well includes Pandur in goal, Dujon Sterling at right-back, Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya in the centre, and James Penrice at left-back. That is the unit that started the previous league meeting with St Mirren, and it has been a consistent selection in the weeks since.

Fernandez’s fitness is therefore the central issue. If he is cleared to play, there is little reason to change the structure. His aerial ability matters at both ends, and with St Mirren’s wing-backs likely to deliver plenty of crosses, a commanding centre-half is a major asset. If he is not fully fit, Ben Godfrey is the obvious alternative, and one preview has suggested he could come into the side regardless.

Penrice’s situation is also interesting. He is an important player for McInnes and is on the verge of a Scotland role, but with his contract arrangement unresolved he is in a slightly unusual position. For Saturday, he looks secure, because the manager has been explicit in praising him.

The back line will be tested by the way St Mirren play. They like to win free-kicks and corners in dangerous areas, and Rangers have to be sharp on set-piece defending. They also need to be careful not to allow Phillips to run at them from deep, since he has shown he can punish loose marking.

Up Front: Naderi, Kelsy and the Striker Puzzle

The striker position is where McInnes has more options than he has had at any point this season, and that makes the decision harder rather than easier.

Naderi was called upon when Shankland was injured and impressed, scoring in the win over Motherwell, and Ibrox News described him as having plenty of potential and quality. Kelsy, signed late in the window, has not arrived to sit on the bench, and the reporting around him has framed the situation as a genuine competition. The idea is that Naderi must keep performing because Kelsy is waiting behind him.

There are arguments both ways. Naderi has the benefit of recent minutes and an established understanding with the wide players. Kelsy offers a different profile and a chance for the manager to freshen up the attack. Against St Mirren’s back three or five, hold-up play and the ability to win aerial duels will matter, and that may tip the balance towards whichever player better suits that kind of game.

If Shankland is fit and available, he complicates the picture further. As captain and the club’s established leader of the line, his return would naturally raise the question of whether he should start. But given the lack of clarity on his fitness, it is sensible to treat him as a possible option from the bench rather than a certain starter.

The Shape of the Game

The tactical picture is fairly clear. St Mirren are likely to set up with a back three or five, with wing-backs providing the width. They will try to keep Rangers from building through the middle, win the ball back quickly and use set pieces as a primary weapon. Their previous setups this season have often been described as a 3-5-2 or a similar variant.

Rangers, by contrast, have tended to play with a back four and a mix of creative players behind a single striker. The challenge is that a back four against a back five can create overloads in wide areas, with St Mirren’s wing-backs pinning the Rangers full-backs and forcing them to choose between defending and attacking.

That is where the work of the full-backs and wide midfielders becomes central. Sterling and Penrice will need to judge when to advance and when to stay back, and the wide players ahead of them will need to track runners as well as supply crosses. If Rangers can stretch the game with sharp switches of play, they will find space. If they allow the match to become congested and scrappy, they play into St Mirren’s hands.

Set pieces could also prove decisive. Both teams rely on them, with Fernandez a threat at one end and St Mirren’s wing-backs delivering into the box at the other. A single corner could separate the sides.

Predicted Rangers XI

The following lineup is this article’s own prediction, based on the team news and recent selections described above. It is not confirmed and not sourced from the club.

Goalkeeper: Ivor Pandur. He has been the first choice throughout the season and there is no reason to expect a change.

Defence: Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez, Olwethu Makhanya, James Penrice. This is the settled back four that has served McInnes well. If Fernandez is not fully fit, Ben Godfrey is the likely replacement.

Midfield: Dan Neil and Nicolas Raskin. Neil’s return gives Rangers more structure after the Aberdeen experience, and Raskin remains too good to leave out without a compelling reason. If McInnes wants extra security, the second spot could go to another holding option instead.

Attacking midfield: Findlay Curtis, Badredine Bouanani and Djeidi Gassama. Curtis offers width and energy, Bouanani gives creativity between the lines if he has fully recovered from his illness, and Gassama adds pace and directness on the other side.

Striker: Ryan Naderi. He has earned the chance to continue, though Kevin Kelsy is a serious alternative and could well start.

That gives a 4-2-3-1 shape: Pandur; Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice; Neil, Raskin; Curtis, Bouanani, Gassama; Naderi.

It is worth being honest about the weak points of this prediction. The identity of the player who might be dropped, as the Ibrox News headline suggests, could be any of several names. If it is Raskin, the midfield changes. If it is one of the wide players, the attack changes. If it is Naderi, then Kelsy leads the line. A prediction that tries to anticipate all of that is bound to be imperfect, and anyone reading it should treat it as a reasoned guess rather than a forecast.

What St Mirren Might Do

On the other side, McLeish has a squad that has shown it can mix pragmatism with ambition. A likely selection would include Chapman in goal, a back line featuring Gogic and Fieldson with Ramsay and John on the flanks, a midfield anchored by Carr and Nsio, and a front group built around Phillips and the supporting forwards. That is based on earlier-season lineups, so it should be treated as indicative, not definitive.

The home side’s approach will be to disrupt Rangers’ rhythm. They will press in spells, then drop into a compact shape and look to counter. Their supporters will expect a strong start, and the early minutes may be decisive. If Rangers can weather the first twenty minutes without conceding, the game tends to open up.

Three Things That Could Decide It

First, the midfield battle. If Neil and his partner can protect the back line and keep possession under pressure, Rangers should control the game. If they are overrun as they were against Aberdeen, the match will become a scramble in which St Mirren are comfortable.

Second, set pieces. With both teams relying on them, defensive concentration matters. Fernandez’s fitness is therefore not just a selection detail but a tactical factor.

Third, the response to selection pressure. Rangers have a deeper squad than they have had in some time, and McInnes is clearly willing to make changes. How the players react, whether those left out accept it and those brought in seize the chance, will say a lot about the strength of the dressing room.

Score Prediction and Final Thoughts

The weight of evidence points towards a Rangers win. They are unbeaten in eleven, they have beaten this opponent comfortably this season, and St Mirren have not beaten them in six meetings. One published forecast has the game finishing 1-0 to Rangers, and that feels like a sensible central estimate, given that the match is likely to be tight and decided by a single moment.

That said, caution is warranted. St Mirren at home are a different proposition from St Mirren at Ibrox, the late kick-off adds an edge, and a side that has been described as misfiring may be exactly the kind of opponent that finds form against a bigger name. A one-goal margin is more likely than a repeat of the cup rout.

The broader point is that this fixture is a useful test of where McInnes’s team is. A year ago, a trip like this would have been approached with anxiety. Now the question is whether Rangers can show the maturity of a side that expects to win. If they do, the unbeaten run continues and the pressure on the teams above them grows. If they do not, the same run will be questioned.

And as for the headline that sparked this preview, the identity of the player being axed will be revealed soon enough, when the team sheet arrives about an hour before kick-off. Until then, anyone claiming certainty is guessing, and this article has tried to be clear about where it is doing exactly that.