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'Worse than Russell Martin' - what's gone wrong for Rangers and Derek McInnes amid escalating crisis Teething problems or a full blown crisis? McInnes still searching for elusive first win as rocky start continues What a difference a few months make. Derek McInnes was lauded for guiding Hearts to within minutes of a shock Scottish Premiership title last season. Now, just weeks into his Ibrox tenure, he finds himself facing an escalating crisis. Four games, zero wins, and now out of the Europa League with a whimper. Rangers' season could scarcely have got off to a worse start. It isn't just the results and performances that are concerning. Injuries to key players have compounded McInnes' problems, leaving the new manager with a difficult job on his hands as he looks to navigate his way through a challenging first couple of weeks in the hotseat. The long-term loss of striker Youssef Chermiti to an ACL injury and news that left-back Tuur Rommens will be sidelined for "a number of weeks" with a groin strain are significant blows. But McInnes' team selections and substitutions have also come under scrutiny, while a number of summer signings have yet to prove their worth. After four matches, there is little evidence that some of the new arrivals have yet justified their place in the Rangers squad. The 3-2 aggregate loss to Jagiellonia Bialystok has compounded the misery and, remarkably, means McInnes has made the worst start of any Rangers manager in the club's history. It was therefore no surprise the supporters who stayed behind at Ibrox until the final whistle made their feelings known. "This is worse than Russell Martin," one furious punter yelled at full-time as the players trudged off the field with heads bowed. There are uncomfortable echoes of last season, when Rangers endured a turbulent start under Martin. Results and performances failed to improve, pressure mounted and Martin was eventually axed in early October. McInnes is now experiencing a similarly intense situation. His next opportunity to seek some much-needed redemption comes at home to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup last-16 this weekend. After Thursday’s disappointment, it is difficult to escape the feeling that Sunday's match has become pivotal — both for McInnes and for Rangers' season. Failure to lift the gloom enveloping Ibrox will only add to the toxicity generated by a winless start to the campaign. Dropping into the Conference League is also a significant financial and reputational setback for a club that expects to be competing at a much higher level. "The club is built for the Champions League and Europa League," McInnes remarked after the 1-1 draw with Jagiellonia that consigned them to the Conference League play-offs and a two-legged tie against Czech outfit Jablonec. "But I don't think the team is ready for it and it pains me to say it." That is some admission and a damning indictment of where his squad are currently at. Yet McInnes knew exactly what he was walking into when he quit his post at Hearts to head along the M8. He also knows what is at stake. Above all, he needs that elusive first win under his belt. It would provide some cause for optimism around Govan and, perhaps more importantly, give an expectant and demanding fanbase something tangible to believe in. Where has it all gone wrong for Rangers? Despite millions being spent on nine new recruits this summer, Rangers still look some way short of the quality required to be regarded as genuine title contenders. They are already five points behind Celtic and St Mirren after just two Premiership games, while McInnes has suggested that Rangers' defensive problems run far deeper than personnel alone. Their inability to produce a full 90-minute performance, he believes, is a continuation of issues that plagued them towards the end of last term. His assessment after the second leg against Jagiellonia was particularly alarming. Concerns have been raised about a lack of leadership within the squad, despite McInnes stressing the importance of recruiting aggressive, strong-minded characters. But the manager must also take his share of the responsibility. Questions are being asked about his tactics and whether he has got some of his decisions wrong to date. Against the Poles, McInnes admitted that Rangers lost their composure after half-time. His decision to replace Thelo Aasgaard, who was "not getting involved enough", with full-back Ross McCrorie was part of a switch from a back three to a back four. Yet Rangers arguably looked even less convincing in the second half and supporters frustration inside the stadium was palpable. McInnes offered little defence of his team's performance when asked about the wholesale boos at full-time. He admitted: "I think it was justified to be honest. What we served up in the second half was not good enough." Where do Rangers go from here? There is still time for McInnes to reshape his squad, with the transfer window remaining open until early September. A new centre-forward is a priority, along with another winger and further defensive cover at left-back. The collapse of the proposed deal for PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech, after medical tests revealed a "minor injury", neatly encapsulates Rangers' fortunes at present. Driouech looked set to become the club's tenth summer recruit. Instead, Rangers pulled the plug and have been forced to explore alternative options. Former Hearts left-back James Penrice is expected to arrive on loan from AEK Athens, but the Light Blues need at least another two or three quality additions. There had been obvious hope that a reunion between McInnes and Lawrence Shankland would prove the catalyst for a winning formula. Instead, the Scotland international is discovering the additional pressure that comes with being Rangers' new captain. For all the negativity surrounding the club, however, there is still a strong belief the situation can be turned around. Dan Neil, who joined from Sunderland, remains confident Rangers will overcome their challenging start. He also preached to transform Ibrox into "the best place to play in the world". "We understand there's an expectation to win here and when you're not winning, it’s going to be like that at the stadium," he said. "We have to accept that as Rangers players and do everything we can to turn that around. I've heard so many people that have been here for a while saying when we're winning, it's the best place to be in the world and there's no place like it. That's got to be our motivation every day.” That is the uphill task facing McInnes. Rangers are not short of time, but fans are quickly running short of patience. The next few weeks will tell us whether this is simply a difficult beginning for a new manager rebuilding a squad — or the start of another season-long crisis at Ibrox. Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.