Thelo Aasgaard scored a brilliant equaliser as Rangers began the Derek McInnes era with a 1-1 draw at Dundee United, proving that some things - like new managers and old problems - never change.

Lachlan Rose gave United a half-time lead at Tannadice with the first goal of the Premiership season, after Rangers spent the opening 45 minutes doing a very convincing impression of a team that had never met each other before. The visitors lacked control in possession, which is a polite way of saying they were all over the shop. But after the break, they looked more threatening, and Aasgaard finished superbly in the 56th minute to level. Naturally, they couldn't build on it, because that would be too easy.

United should have won it with eight minutes left when substitute Daniel Bennie’s swerving pass sent Jesse Randall clean through on goal, but the New Zealand international dinked a shot straight into goalkeeper Ivor Pandur’s hands - a moment of such timidity it could make a mouse look brave.

McInnes made his mark on the lineup by naming Youssef Chermiti on the bench, handing Ryan Naderi a role on the right of attack, and giving debuts to Pandur, Ben Godfrey, Cammy Devlin, and Lawrence Shankland. Only two Scots started the match, but both wore armbands: former Falkirk midfielder Dylan Tait captained United, while Shankland led Rangers.

The former Hearts striker was the first to threaten with a flick that drew a reaction stop from Jack Walton, but the home goalkeeper’s only other first-half save was from a Naderi header that looked slightly off target. Rose and Zac Sapsford got in behind for United but couldn't get shots on target, while the Rangers defence was kept busy as the hosts worked the ball into the box.

Dujon Sterling and Mohamed Diomande fired off target from outside the box for Rangers before the hosts broke through in the 38th minute. Rangers centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez was caught out of position as Sapsford dummied Randall’s low cross, and Rose watched in delight as his left-foot effort spun off the post and over the line.

Chermiti and Dan Neil came on for Naderi and Djeidi Gassama at half-time, and McInnes's side immediately looked more threatening. Aasgaard forced an excellent diving save from Walton before the Norway international levelled moments later. Shankland’s physical presence caused problems as United were made to defend another high ball, and Aasgaard took an excellent touch to take out Joshua Rawlins before firing a left-foot strike into the top corner from 16 yards.

Rangers couldn't keep up the momentum, and Randall squandered a glorious chance to mark his league debut with a famous winner. Chermiti almost made the home side pay but Walton stopped the striker’s effort with his feet, and home substitute Idjessi Metsoko delivered a weak effort straight at Pandur from a decent opportunity.

So the McInnes era begins with a point, a few encouraging signs, and the haunting suspicion that the more things change, the more they stay the same.