David Martindale issues Rangers fans ‘guarantee’ ahead of Viaplay Cup quarter final with Michael Beale under pressure
David Martindale has dismissed capitalising on possible discontent among the Rangers supporters ahead of his side’s Viaplay Cup clash at Ibrox.
The Livingston boss told PLZ Soccer (25 September) it was not something he was planning to “tap into” because he could “guarantee” the Gers fans wouldn’t be booing if their team scores an early goal on Wednesday (27 September).
Michael Beale is under pressure from his own supporters are another poor performance in the fortunate 1-0 win over Motherwell on Sunday, having faced questions over his job during the international break after losing to Celtic again.
The Livi boss said: “See to be fair I don’t really buy into all that. Rangers go and score an early goal I will guarantee you the fans won’t be booing they’ll be clapping and cheering.
“That quickly changes, goals change games of football, so I don’t think it’s something we can tap into. I don’t think it comes into my team talk or anything like that, or how we approach the game.
“That swing, that momentum, in terms of the crowd can quickly change when there’s 55,000 fans at Ibrox and they score a goal.
“So no it’s not really something I’m going to try to tap into. If it happens it happens but it’s not something I’m going to try to tap into.”
Danger
Martindale is technically right but he must be privately hoping to take advantage of the situation at Rangers ahead of this meeting.
With Celtic already knocked out the pressure is all on Beale to lift his first trophy as manager, but every other side in the competition will also be viewing it as an opportunity.
The Ibrox boss knew he had to keep winning upon return to club action following his latest Old Firm derby miss, and while he has done that it hasn’t been the procession that would assuage doubts over his suitability for the job.
Beating Real Betis in the Europa League was a good result, but a relatively unconvincing 2-0 win away at the SPFL’s bottom side in St Johnstone, and an even less convincing 1-0 win at home to Motherwell haven’t done him a huge amount of good.
On paper he should be recording another win on Wednesday, and if he does so he will continue to get what is increasingly looking like a stay of execution.
Anything short and he will be really struggling, while even a victory will come without any concrete certainty that he would actually be around long enough to potentially win the cup.
In other Rangers news, the club can’t let an unhappy player leave with a star man already tipped to make Premier League move.