Gary Keown: Michael Beale running out of road at Rangers with Celtic protests on the cards for Sunday
Michael Beale is running out of road at Rangers as Celtic protests are on the cards, according to Gary Keown.
On page 107 of the Scottish Mail on Sunday’s print edition on 3 September, the journalist said the Gers boss has failed to “win a game that matters” in ninth months despite making a number of additions across the summer.
He claims the Old Firm clash is a “big deal” for Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and predicted that there could be protests at Parkhead if they don’t see off a “patchy” Light Blues team, but he believes Beale is “far closer to running out of road”.
“Fail to see off this patchy Rangers team in the title race and the only place they’ll be returning to is the Parkhead car park with that ‘Shoot The Board’ banner and a few big units capable of picking up a crush barrier and hurling it at the front door,” said Keown.
“The first Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox this afternoon is a big deal for Rodgers as he attempts to get his Brenaissance out of reverse gear.
“Same goes for his opposite number Michael Beale, who is far, far closer to running out of road after nine months of failing to win a game that matters and a summer window full of investments that look about as copper-bottomed as sending that bank transfer to the Nigerian prince who got into your Googlemail.”
Under pressure
There is no doubt that the pressure is mounting on Beale heading into the Old Firm game after a couple of unconvincing performances – and results – already this season.
The midweek humbling against PSV means the Gers manager really needs a confidence-boosting victory over Celtic to ease some of the pressure on him before the international break.
Although a defeat on Sunday won’t be as damaging for Rodgers, the pressure is also starting to build for the Hoops boss after they were dumped out of the League Cup by Kilmarnock and then drew at home to St. Johnstone last week.
A victory for either side will see them take top spot in the SPFL but, more crucially, it would give them a psychological edge over their Glasgow rival at an early stage in the campaign.
It’s a hard one to predict with neither side really firing on all cylinders at this moment in time, but you would expect it to be a hard-fought battle as both teams know exactly what is on the line.
In other Rangers news, a pundit has urged the club to make upgrades to their squad as one star is named.