What happened during Rangers vs West Ham United: Starting XI's, new signings impact and injury concern

Rangers drew 0-0 against West Ham United in their final pre-season friendly this summer.

A low-key affair in terms of attacking quality played out in the first half before Ibrox playmaker Thelo Aasgaard trudged off with a shoulder problem. Lawrence Shankland missed a chance late on in what was the final opportunity to impress Rangers manager Derek McInnes ahead of this coming Friday’s Premiership curtain raiser at Dundee United.

The Light Blues fielded a strong XI to take on a West Ham team who have been relegated to the English Championship. New signings Ivor Pandur, Ben Godfrey and Cammy Devlin started the game but more summer recruits were expected to appear off the bench. West Ham had key players to test Rangers with, Jarrod Bowen, James Ward-Prowse, Pablo and Valentín Castellanos all starting.

What happened during Rangers vs West Ham United?

New Rangers signing Vanja Dragojevic’s spotting in the stand was as exciting as it got in 25 minutes opening minutes filled with typical pre-season friendly stuff. Plenty of endeavour but with teething issues as new groups build relationships with each other. Devlin impressed in midfield with an energetic battling display before Shankland, Oliver Antman, Youssef Chermiti and Dan Neil came on at the break.

Aasgaard was lively at the start of the second half but a cynical foul by Keiber Lamadrid injured his shoulder and forced him off. Shankland then had a chance to win the game but couldn’t convert Tuur Rommens’ cross with Neil proceeding to float a few corners into the West Ham box. Jarrod Bowen had a half-volley saved at the other end as neither side managed to break the deadlock and new signing Godfrey was named Man of the Match.

Another week of planning and possibly transfer work will now commence ahead of Dundee United as Rangers’ season prepares for take-off. Devlin meanwhile revealed in the week stressful departure from Hearts impacted his World Cup. The midfielder signed for Rangers following the conclusion of his Gorgie deal to work with ex-Tynecastle gaffer McInnes again but admits allowing himself to go into a major tournament out of contract backfired. He said: “It was stressful to be honest.

Why did Cammy Devlin join Rangers?

“We didn’t have much time to kind of reflect on how last season ended and then it was straight into the World Cup, which is one of the most special moments of your career. I thought it would be a good idea going in there off contract, but it wasn’t. It was too stressful. It was hard to kind of enjoy being in the moment and being at the World Cup and dealing with all that and all the noise around it.

“I had my dad asking me every day what’s going on. Everyone kind of knows the relationship I have with the gaffer. We’re super close. He was so good for me at Hearts. Everyone knows the season we had there last year and he helped me so much just as a player. When the opportunity came, it was one that I thought was too good to pass up. Obviously being at Rangers is such a massive football club and that was kind of what happened for me. But yeah, like I say, it was pretty stressful. I’m glad now it’s all over.”

Rangers XI vs West Ham: Pandur; Sterling, Fernandez, Godfrey, Rommens; Gassama, Aasgaard, Devlin, Curtis; Aasgaard, Naderi.

Subs used: Shankland, Antman, Chermiti, Neil, Chukwuani, Bajrami.

West Ham XI: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Scarles, Ward-Prowse, Kante, Lamadrid, Bowen, Pablo, Taty.

Subs : Areola (GK), Herrick (GK), Golambeckis, Mayers, Casey, Potts, Orford, Earthy, Cornet, Marshall, Ajala