Chris Sutton sniffs at Rangers penalty vs Livingston, fires back Michael Beale live on BT Sport after Chelsea dig
Chris Sutton reacted sarcastically as Rangers scored from the penalty spot at Livingston before firing a new dig back at Michael Beale.
The pair have found themselves in a war of words this week, after the former Celtic striker questioned whether Beale would have allowed the Hoops an unopposed equaliser as he had Partick Thistle last week, with the Gers boss then dismissing Sutton as a “comedy act” and Chelsea’s “worst ever” player [Football Scotland, 16 February].
So when James Tavernier put the Light Blues ahead with a penalty on Saturday (18 February) Sutton continued his ongoing complaint about Gers spot kicks and took aim at Beale’s own playing career in response.
Speaking on BT Sport Score, as per the Daily Record, he said sarcastically: “A bit of pressure on Mick Beale after his comments in the week, good for him. A tough place to go Livingston on the plastic. It’s a difficult venue, who got the goal? Oh, it’s a penalty. You couldn’t make that up.”
Robbie Savage got involved to say: “I thought it was a bit harsh to call him Chelsea’s worst ever player…”
But Sutton replied: “In fairness Robbie, I’d rather be Chelsea’s worst ever player than Manchester United’s reserves worst ever player.”
Pantomime
Wind Sutton up and point him in the direction of Ibrox or anyone associated with the club and he will not be short of things to say.
But much as he is unpopular among the Rangers fanbase it is all part of the rivalry and it probably would be a duller place without him.
David Martindale was also upset about the penalty award that set his side on the way to a 3-0 defeat to the Bears but it was clearly a shirt-pull by James Penrice, however unnecessary, so it was always likely to be given.
It is perhaps no surprise that Beale and Sutton have been having digs at each other with an Old Firm derby at Hampden Park coming up in the Viaplay Cup final next week, as if that needed extra hype.
It is a riskier game for the Ibrox boss to play since he will be roundly slated if the result doesn’t go his way, but his side have managed to pull out plenty of results since he took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The only blemish on his record is a draw against Celtic on 2 January, but if he can go one better than that and lift the trophy in a week’s time (26 February) it will certainly make up for it.
In other Rangers news, one player was branded “crazy” on BBC Sportscene for what he did in the Gers win over Livi.