Peter Lynch

Mon 7 August 2023 20:10, UK

Rangers boss Michael Beale has done an “awful lot of talking” despite not achieving much as a manager, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.

The journalist was speaking after the Gers lost 1-0 to Kilmarnock on Saturday (5 August) in their first match of the new season.

Fierce rivals Celtic meanwhile got off to winning ways under returning manager Brendan Rodgers with a 4-2 win against Ross County on the same day.

“I’ve tracked Michael Beale closely ever since the situation at Wolves, when seemingly he’d agreed to go there, stayed at QPR, then gave that long spiel about how he couldn’t possibly contemplate leaving because he’s a loyal man,” Crook said live on talkSPORT.

“And then he jumped ship as soon as Rangers came calling, so I think Beale is a manager who has done an awful lot of talking for somebody who hasn’t actually achieved that much in the game so far. So I think there is a lot of pressure on Beale this season.”

Pressure mounting

Rangers have played just one match of the new Scottish Premiership, but manager Beale already finds himself under pressure given how fierce rivals Celtic have opened up a three-point gap over the Gers.

That really does emphasise the tiny margins of error in Scottish football, with the top two really not able to afford to lose out to other clubs in the division.

But that was the case for Beale’s men at Rugby Park, in what was a hugely disappointing afternoon for the manager and many of his new signings.

They and the fans have been brought crashing back down to earth after an exciting summer, with Beale now needing to pick up points in the league as soon as possible to get back on track and back within touching distance of Celtic.

Rodgers has assembled a strong squad in the other half of Glasgow, and his side don’t look like dropping too many points over the coming months.

In other Rangers news, a BBC pundit has shared a new title prediction after the Gers lost 1-0 against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.