Michael Beale, finally, got what he wanted last Saturday, his Rangers players to be clinical and not gift Celtic any goals.
A 3-0 win might be too little, too late, but it served as a reminder to those in blue, and those in green and white, that next season could be entirely different.
Former Rangers utility man Andy Halliday, who played under Beale, was impressed with what he saw at Ibrox and, speaking on the Open Goal podcast, he revealed what he thought the Gers gaffer got right:
“Cantwell was almost like a false nine where out of position he sat on McGregor, Matondo and Sakala were sort of occupying the centre-halves and forcing the ball wide.
“I think the way that the game went has still been similar to a lot of the last three or four Old Firms where a lot of the time, Rangers have actually played alright.
“That game there, they were better in the box, better in both boxes and were more clinical.
“I think, in terms of tactics, I think Beale, I think his tactics have been fine in the Old Firms.
“I just don’t think they have got the results which, ultimately, is the most important thing.”
Is Michael Beale getting his Old Firm tactics right for Rangers
Of all the games since taking charge, the league cup final is probably the one that Michael Beale would want back in his second spell at Rangers.
Too many long balls and too big a gap between the forward line and midfield made us an easy opposition for Celtic to play against.
He learned his lesson though and has since tried to be more controlled in his approach but there is little a manager can do with his team missing open goals and handing easy chances.
The players might change over the summer but, the template is there.
Ange Postecoglu won’t change his tactics which means that there shouldn’t be any surprises in the next Old Firm for Michael Beale, if only the season was just starting, rather than finishing for Rangers.
