Rangers: Keith Jackson admits dark cloud could hang over Michael Beale with Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic
Keith Jackson believes a “huge dark cloud” could hang over Michael Beale’s head this summer if Rangers fail to beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final on 30 April.
The Gers fell to a second consecutive Old Firm defeat on Saturday as Ange Postecolgou’s Celtic side edged them out 3-2 at Parkhead, despite a valiant performance and a notable brace from captain James Tavernier.
The defeat was Beale’s first loss in the Scottish Premiership since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the Ibrox dugout in November, an unbeaten run which had stretched for 15 matches.
Despite this “remarkable” record as manager of Rangers, Jackson, writing in his Daily Record column, admitted that if the Gers lose a third straight Old Firm tie in the Scottish Cup semi-final at the end of April, Beale could come under some notable pressure in the summer.
“The progress this team has made since his appointment is actually bordering on the remarkable, given how flaky and entirely unreliable it had become under Giovanni van Bronckhorst,” he wrote.
“But, in this particular part of the world, fairness is a luxury which is seldom afforded. And Saturday’s derby day defeat at Celtic Park has left Beale boxed into an unenviable position.
“He was smart enough to see it coming when he spoke through the week about his big plans for the transfer market and he thoroughly deserves the opportunity to build on the solid foundations he’s already laid down in a short space of time.
“But promises of jam tomorrow won’t sweeten Beale’s situation in the event that Celtic kill his season stone dead at Hampden on April 30. On the contrary, he’ll go into the summer with a huge dark cloud hanging over his head and with goodwill and patience in short supply as Postecoglou celebrates a treble on the other side of the city.”
High Standards
Beale is highly unfortunate that he has arrived at Rangers at the same time as a Celtic side who are a winning machine and haven’t shown any signs of letting up.
Frustratingly for the Englishman, his Gers side were the better side for large portions of the Old Firm derby, but they lacked the cutting edge in the final third to really make Celtic pay.
Ange Postecolgou’s side, on the other hand, doesn’t offer any second chances, and as soon as Rangers started missing a couple of opportunities, you knew it would come back to haunt them.
The Old Firm clash was a massive step up in performance from the Viaplay Cup final defeat in February, but the fact that Rangers still lost the match will be a worry.
The Scottish Cup semi-final will be one more chance for the Gers to deliver a phycological blow before what is expected to be a mammoth title race next season.
In other Rangers news, a twice-capped international goalkeeper is a target for Michael Beale.