Scottish Premiership PREVIEW 31 Jul 2026: Rangers open the McInnes era at Tannadice

The Premiership begins at Tannadice on Friday night, Dundee United against Rangers, kick-off at 8pm with Nick Walsh refereeing. The all-time record between them is 246 meetings, Rangers 144, United 48, 54 draws. Rangers won the last one 4-2 on 4 April.

Derek McInnes takes charge of his first competitive Rangers match, appointed on 17 June on a three-year contract and arriving directly from Hearts, whom he had led to second place and their best Premiership finish in twenty years. He brought players with him: Lawrence Shankland, now Rangers club captain, and Cammy Devlin, both from Tynecastle, alongside Ross McCrorie from Bristol City and Ivor Pandur from Hull City for six million.

The departures were the bigger story. James Tavernier, captain for a decade, left at the end of his contract on 24 May. Jack Butland was sold to Hull for three million, Oliver Antman to Anderlecht, Ben Davies to Bolton, and Leon King went to Ayr United. The spine of the side that finished last season is largely gone.

One asymmetry is worth watching. As Europa League entrants Rangers were exempt from the Premier Sports Cup group stage, so tonight is their first competitive match of the season after a pre-season of friendlies. Dundee United have already played four, winning Group B with nine points, including 3-0 against Arbroath and 4-0 against Spartans at home in the space of three days.

Jim Goodwin is into his fourth full season at United and recruited unusually this summer, leaning on the Australian A-League for Joshua Rawlins from Melbourne Victory, Lachlan Rose from Newcastle Jets and the New Zealand international Jesse Randall from Auckland FC. Goalkeeper Jack Walton returned permanently from Preston after two loan seasons at the club.