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St Johnstone boss highlights biggest problem 'restless' Rangers and Michael Beale now face
St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean is hoping to take full advantage when “restless” out-of-form Rangers visit McDiarmid Park.
The Gers make the trip to Perth on Saturday [16 September] on the back of successive defeats at the hands of PSV and Celtic prior to the international break.
After failing to qualify for the Champions League group stage and falling four points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, the pressure is seriously on boss Michael Beale.
MacLean, who started his playing career at Rangers, is aware of Beale’s situation and admits the Gers are there to be got at in their current state of malaise.
“We all know if you build pressure on teams that come with a big support, make them uncomfortable and make them do things they don’t want to do, then their fans get restless,” he is quoted as saying by the Daily Record [15 September].
“I knew that when I played. It’s not easy playing for a big club like Rangers when the fans turn and make it difficult for their own team.
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“So that’s what you’ve got to try and do. I’d like to think our players would thrive off that. You’ve got to thrive off the atmosphere anyway, enjoy the occasion and enjoy trying to make teams feel uncomfortable here.”
MacLean’s quotes – and St Johnstone’s approach to the match – are something Rangers will have to get accustomed to.
Opposition teams can see the Gers are in a vulnerable state, and even a victory at McDiarmid Park will unlikely change that.
In many ways, it will only probably change once Beale is replaced and supporters are all singing from the same hymn sheet again.
The only other way to resolve it is by stringing together a run of a few wins on the bounce.
Given that has not happened since May, it is unlikely that is going to be the case now.
The biggest worry is that it gets worse before it gets any better, something the Gers cannot afford as they are already playing catch-up.
In other Rangers news, Barry Ferguson has given his thoughts on whether James Tavernier should be stripped of the captaincy.