Debutant James Penrice scored and assisted in Rangers' 5-1 win over St Mirren [SNS] Amid a four-game winless start to Rangers' season, the arrival of James Penrice came with little fanfare. While rival fans attempted to poke fun at the Ibrox club for signing another former Hearts player, supporters of the Govan side were left somewhat underwhelmed. However, with first-choice left-back Tuur Rommens out injured, Penrice showed 24 hours later that he can be a vital addition for manager Derek McInnes in the coming weeks by assisting and scoring on his debut against St Mirren. "That was probably a dream debut," the boyhood Rangers fan told former Hearts team-mate Andy Halliday on Premier Sports. "It's been a mental week. I don't think it gets better than that."
Rangers thump League Cup holders St Mirren for McInnes' first win Penrice joins Rangers from AEK Athens on loan
'Outstanding' Penrice an 'added bonus' Rangers were far from convincing in a first half in which they went two up, but they offered plenty of encouragement to a St Mirren side that pulled a goal back before the break. After the interval, however, 27-year-old Penrice epitomised a much-improved second-half showing from McInnes' men, providing a relentless attacking threat from the left. That was highlighted in the 52nd minute. The full-back raced up the left-hand side on the counter attack before teeing up Djeidi Gassama with a perfect first-time pass. Two minutes later, Penrice was on the scoresheet himself, slamming in a loose ball from close range to give Rangers a three-goal cushion. "For James Penrice to get on the scoresheet and also have an outstanding performance here in his first game at Rangers was another added bonus," said former Rangers striker Steven Thompson on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "You could hear it inside the stadium, the shift in how the Rangers fans are feeling. [The win] will give everyone at the club a lift. "A lot of positives for Derek McInnes." 'The more players we can get like Penrice, the better' One of those positives for McInnes was his left-back. The Rangers boss knows that it is just one win for him and one good performance for Penrice - nobody will be getting carried away. However, the former Hearts head coach, who worked with Penrice for a brief spell at Tynecastle before the defender's move to Greece, was still keen to heap praise on his latest recruit. "James comes here with a freshness," McInnes said on Premier Sports. "He just goes and plays the game with real enthusiasm but he's also got quality. "His quality of defending was good, his decision making, his energy - he sees what it means to play for the club. "The more players we can get like that, the better. I'm really glad the club allowed us to bring him in."