MICHAEL BEALE has warned his players not to switch off during breaks in play in today’s Old Firm at Ibrox after watching Celtic repeatedly catch their rivals unprepared in the first derby of the season.
Back in September, Rangers were accused of reacting slowly to set-plays as they slipped to a demoralising 4-0 defeat at Parkhead. Ange Postecoglou’s side were proactive and quick to get the ball back in play as they chalked up a resounding victory and Beale knows his team cannot afford to make the same mistakes as they look to narrow the nine-point gap with the cinch Premiership leaders.
“It is dangerous, isn’t it, if you switch off at set plays and things like that,” Beale observed. “It is dangerous because they will look to play quickly.
“Celtic themselves got done with a goal recently, I think at Motherwell, when they switched off. It is about when the ball goes dead, people don’t switch off.
“It is important we stay alert because maybe a couple of goals in that game could have been avoided. It is important in these games that you don’t give anything away cheaply. If the other team is going to hurt you, they have to have earned it.”
Beale watched the first derby of the season as it unfolded and says he shared supporters’ frustrations with the team’s performance. Derbies, he insists, often swing on important moments one way or the other – rack up enough of those, and the whole momentum of the rivalry can shift.
“I watched it live,” he said. “We had a game later that afternoon, so I watched it, kicking every ball. Obviously I was very frustrated that day with the outcome. The key moments went against Rangers.
“I remember late last season Fashion Sakala going through one-on-one in the 85th minute and if that had gone in, history could have been slightly different. It didn’t, and obviously since then Celtic have had the upper hand.
“That came after Rangers winning a semi-final against Celtic so it isn’t too long ago these two squads played and Rangers got the upper hand. I do think, at the moment - and you know what I’m going to say - they are the favourites, they are the team with the rhythm, they are the team with no injuries, they are the team in best form. Okay then, it’s an opportunity.”
