Sam Stone

Fri 17 February 2023 14:40, UK

Chris Sutton has responded to Rangers Review journalist Jonny McFarlane after the former Celtic striker questioned Michael Beale’s sportsmanship.

Beale ordered his players to allow Partick Thistle to equalise in their Scottish Cup tie last weekend after Malik Tillman had put the Gers ahead in controversial circumstances.

Sutton has recently suggested Beale wouldn’t have done the same had the Gers been playing Celtic, a comment Rangers’ boss didn’t take well. The former Celtic striker has since commented on Twitter suggesting the Light Blues boss has continued to talk about him despite claiming he was trying to forget about the outspoken pundit.

Sutton has once again responded on Twitter, this time to McFarlane, suggesting the whole feud is being blown out of proportion.

“A mountain out of a molehill Jonny,” wrote Sutton (personal Twitter, 17 February).

Rattled

Sutton is clearly rattled here. Beale has far better things to do than listen to his constant Twitter drivel. Of course, the Rangers boss would have ordered his team to score an own goal if it had been Celtic – and Ange Postecoglou would’ve done exactly the same.

Winning a game in such dubious circumstances isn’t what any manager wants and would’ve certainly put a negative mark against Beale’s name. The decision was the right one and due to the Light Blues winning the game, the talk surrounding the incident hasn’t been excessively criticised.

As for Sutton, the majority of Rangers fans are now completely numb to most of the stuff which comes out of his mouth. His job is to create attention and ultimately get people to listen to and watch him on TV. Beale is right, he was a bang-average player who is now trying to cause stirs within the media.

This little episode will certainly add a tiny bit more spice to next weekend’s Old Firm clash.

In other Rangers news, one Bears star took to social media to mock criticism from a Sky Sports pundit