Can Rangers build on modicum of positivity?

[BBC] The win over St Mirren will have come as a blessed relief to Derek McInnes, giving him his first victory as Rangers manager and restoring a modicum of positivity around Ibrox after a trying start to the season. No time for resting on laurels though as another crucial game rolls around. Jablonec of the Czech Republic arrive to try to inflict another European bloody nose after last week's demoralising Europa League exit to Jagiellonia Bialystok. Rangers' star has waned in Europe since the most recent high of the Europa League final in 2022, but failure to beat a side that finished fifth in their domestic league last season and the resulting absence from European competition would be an astonishing fall from grace. At least Rangers go into Thursday's first leg feeling a bit better about themselves, having at last found a cutting edge against St Mirren on Sunday. There were several good performances, most notably from debutant James Penrice who, with a goal and assist, slotted in seamlessly. Vanja Dragojevic also caught the eye, starting for the first time in his favoured central midfield berth and capping an impressive display with a fabulous first goal for the club, albeit it was his stray pass that allowed St Mirren to pull a goal back before half-time. Alongside him, Tochi Chukwuani, criticised in some quarters towards the end of last season and for a disappointing showing in Poland two weeks ago, showed up well, driving Rangers forward and helping them to an emphatic win. It was not without its scares though and McInnes will surely recognise that a better, more ruthless opponent would have likely taken greater advantage of a continuing softness at Rangers' core that affords the opposition goalscoring opportunities. Nonetheless, Rangers will take the positivity from the overall performance and result and hope they can build on it on Thursday evening.