Andy Walker impressed by Rangers winning mentality under Micheal Beale amid Celtic chase
Michael Beale is an “impressive individual” who has instilled a “winning mentality” at Rangers since his arrival, according to Andy Walker.
The Gers boss has taken maximum points from his three games in charge so far, ahead of Motherwell’s visit to Ibrox on Wednesday night, including overturning a 2-1 deficit at Aberdeen in stoppage time on 20 December.
That has kept the gap to Celtic at the top of the table down to nine points as the next Old Firm derby approaches, and while reeling in the Glasgow rivals remains a major challenge Walker isn’t yet ruling it out.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Wednesday (28 December) he said of Beale: “All credit to him, he’s had three games as Rangers manager and there’s pressure on Rangers in every game.
“He’s got the nine points, he’s spoken very well, he’s an impressive individual. He’s got terrific coaching experience. [but] it is hugely different being a manager.
“Asking Rangers to challenge Celtic and overhaul a nine-point gap is going to be a really tall order but we saw the capabilities at Pittodrie against Aberdeen where they scored two goals in injury time.
“That showed you there’s a winning mentality there, fighting right to the end. It’s going to be difficult to overhaul a nine-point gap but you don’t rule anything out, all the games are tough.”
Top marks
It hasn’t necessarily been pretty at times but Beale has done what he had to do in taking all the points on offer so far.
He knows as well as anyone that is the requirement in charge at Ibrox but it felt like the Light Blues were at risk of dropping further behind Celtic every time they went out under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
There are plenty of questions still to be answered within the squad, and as soon as points go begging the pressure will start to mount, but taking over a defeated looking set of players he has already lifted the mood.
Of course the 2 January derby will be the first major test of how quickly he can turn things around, but there have been enough signs in the early stages to suggest the club may have got this appointment right, and the hassle that Beale caused himself in leaving QPR might have been worth it.
Ninth-placed Motherwell shouldn’t mean anything other than three points at home, but the fans would surely like to see a more comfortable win than either the Hibs or Aberdeen games, and some more goals than the 1-0 victory at Ross County last time out.
A good performance and another three points will send the Bears into the Old Firm meeting in as good a position as could have been hoped for coming out of the World Cup break.
In other Rangers news, an Ibrox legend has praised one man playing out of position under Beale while criticising another.