George Overhill

Mon 27 February 2023 20:40, UK

Chris Sutton claims Michael Beale has to now “climb back into his box” after Rangers were beaten in the Viaplay Cup final by Celtic.

The pundit and the Ibrox boss had a verbal tussle of sorts in the run up to the game, and after the 2-1 win for Ange Postecoglou’s side Sutton has said Beale should learn from the Australian.

Rangers produced a flat performance for too much of the meeting at Hampden Park on Sunday (26 February), and didn’t get up to speed until they were already 2-0 down to a pair of Kyogo Furuhashi goals in what Sutton called a “lesson” from the Hoops.

Speaking live on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club (27 February, 8.08pm) Sutton said: “There’s that old adage isn’t there that actions speak louder than words?

“I think Michael Beale has gone into Rangers and had a really positive start but he has had a lot to say for himself, calling out the Celtic manager, suggesting that he was lucky. I think he can learn a lot from the Celtic manager.

“I think Michael Beale, with the nature of the Rangers performance, especially in the first half, is having to climb back into his box and sort of lick his wounds. It was a sore loss for Rangers. I thought Celtic deserved to win the game.”

Let down

Ramping up the focus and the pressure prior to the game was always going to open Beale up for criticism if the result went the wrong way, and amid questions over his team selection he will now have to weather the storm.

Sutton has made his feelings clear and while he will no doubt be enjoying it, there is unfortunately an element of truth to it, which will remain the case until the Ibrox boss can redress the balance.

It was a very disappointing afternoon from a Light Blues point of view, and another trophy has gone begging with the league already out of reach.

The revival since he returned to Glasgow in place of Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been largely positive, but the two blemishes now are the only two games against Postecoglou which have ended in a draw and a defeat.

There are still encouraging elements, but it is going to take a lot more work and a lot more moves in the transfer market to get back to the top in Scotland.

Rangers were in that position when Beale left for Aston Villa with Steven Gerrard and since the 55th title win they have let a position of dominance slip through their fingers.

Postecoglou took full advantage and now the Bears boss has a big fight on his hands to overturn that situation once more.

In other Rangers news, the club are now expected to make at least four new signings after losing at Hampden Park.