A furious Michael Beale admits he’s laid into his stuttering Rangers stars following an “unacceptable” showing against Motherwell at Ibrox.
The Gers boss admits his side “got off with one” in the 1-0 win with Motherwell more than good value for a point and Rangers being dug out by some last ditch defending.
In Rangers’ major bright spot of play, with some neat intricate build-up in the first half, Michael Beale’s side took the lead as Cyriel Dessers deflected a shot into the back of the Motherwell net.
It was something of a freak goal and Rangers wound up very lucky that it would prove to be the eventual winner as a spirited Motherwell struggled to beat Jack Butland.
The Ibrox goalkeeper – combined with goal-line clearances from James Tavernier and Connor Goldson – conspired to keep a miraculous clean sheet as Michael Beale’s team were booed off the park, and not for the first time this season, despite beating Motherwell
Michael Beale furious at abject Motherwell showing
Speaking after the game, the Rangers manager admits that he’s had “honest words” with his team and branded the performance “unacceptable”.
“From the first minute onwards I was unhappy with the team today,” Beale told the press after the game.
“The unforced errors with the ball were unacceptable for players playing here. That performance today was a really poor one.
“It was a good goal, but outside of that some of our play was so poor against a team which was in a good place and is well-organised and came here with a plan. They executed their plan better than us because we constantly turned the ball over and left ourselves vulnerable.
“I’m looking for more from this group of players, they know that. I take no comfort from winning that game of football today. I don’t take one bit of comfort from that, it wasn’t a game I enjoyed at all.
“I don’t think the players enjoyed it either. It’s a complete backward step after a forward step on Thursday [where Rangers beat Real Betis 1-0].”
When asked if he angrily confronted the players after the Motherwell game, Michael Beale said: “We’ve had honest words, yes.”
Rangers fans have seen this movie before and whilst their team might’ve gained three points against Motherwell, there is only so long such poor performances will go unpunished.
The Gers really should’ve dropped points in a third Premiership game this season with the defeats to Kilmarnock and Celtic still very fresh in the memory.
Michael Beale deserves some praise for being honest post-Motherwell but with the injuries mounting there’s a sense of deja-vu ringing out around Ibrox.
This team – many of them signed by the Rangers manager – now need to start playing for him and fans will be waiting for a reaction against Livingston in mid-week.
