Heart & Hand reacts to Rangers fans banner against Michael Beale at Livingston
Rangers fans criticising Michael Beale with a banner unveiled during the victory at Livingston is an “odd one” say Heart & Hand.
BBC journalist Jane Lewis shared a photo on Twitter of the Light Blues supporters holding up a banner during the comfortable 3-0 win on Saturday (18 February) which read: “Two trophies in eleven years. Uphold the standards that matter.”
That was in reference to the Rangers’ boss allowing an equaliser to be scored unopposed in the 3-2 cup victory over Partick Thistle last week (12 February), after Malik Tillman had put the club ahead, with the boss saying afterwards it was necessary to “uphold the standards of this football club” [Rangers Review, 12 February].
Reacting on Twitter to the unveiling of the banner during the game, Heart & Hand wrote: “Don’t really get that banner. We won, we’re competing for a trophy next week. Odd one really.”
What’s done is done
In fairness to Beale there isn’t much more he can have done so far to address the lack of trophies, as the only game he hasn’t won was the late draw in the Old Firm derby on 2 January.
Overhauling the nine-point gap at the top of the SPFL might have been impossible even if that was a victory as well, and the Viaplay Cup final against Celtic next week is an opportunity to add another trophy already.
Having come through the dramatic fifth round of the Scottish Cup last weekend, the defence of that piece of silverware is still on the table as well.
It may have been a bit high and mighty of the Light Blues boss to go into the standards of the club afterwards, but he likely saved Tillman from being the target of unnecessary ire with his decision to allow the equaliser.
There was ultimately no harm done since the game was won, so the focus should now all be directed to overcoming Celtic in the upcoming game.
Fans have the right to have an opinion on the way the manager and the club operate, but while the board have left themselves open to criticism more than enough over the past year, Beale has largely backed up his talk since returning to the club.
Lose next week and he will have questions to answer, but the protest seems a bit premature when he may yet lift that cup.
In other Rangers news, a key man may now be unavailable for the Old Firm derby after yet another injury to the Gers squad.