Brian Laudrup reckons Michael Beale's Rangers response to Malik Tillman's goal against Partick proves the club is in good hands.
Beale instructed his players to let the Jags equalise at Ibrox after Tillman had won possession and put the hosts 2-1 up after Partick had tried to give possession back to their opponents. That provoked a furios response from the Jags players, who angrily confronted the American.
But Scott Tiffoney was allowed to run through unopposed from kick-off and score to restore parity, then everyone got on with what was a thrilling Scottish Cup tie. An own goal saw Rangers through to the quarter-finals, where they will host Raith Rovers following Monday evening's draw. But more important than progressing, as far as Laudrup is concerned, is how Rangers conduct themselves, and insists Beale is already onto a winner in that regard. He wrote in his Daily Mail column: "Michael Beale put fairness first. And protected his own player at the same time. To me, it was a class act by a manager who is leading Rangers in the right manner.
"Some things are bigger than just getting a win or reaching the next round of the Scottish Cup. Sportsmanship is one of them.
"Beale 's decision to let Partick Thistle score unopposed and make it 2-2 was brave in the sense there was still a risk of suffering a major shock result that would have derailed the early optimism of his tenure. But his reaction was absolutely the right one. And not just in moral terms. What Beale did was the smart thing to look after Malik Tillman, too.
"I don't buy the idea that somehow he wasn't sticking up for his own player. The opposite was true. By shifting the focus on to himself, Beale was saving Tillman from a lot of unnecessary grief.
"Now, I definitely think the 20-year-old was unaware of what was going on when he ran through and scored. After being left flat on the ground, he didn't know Thistle were supposed to be allowed to give Rangers the ball back from the throw-in.
"Could you imagine if his goal had stood uncorrected and proved to be the winner for Rangers? All the talk this week would be about Tillman, with a lot of finger pointing taking place. He would be a villain in some people's eyes.
"Beale must have thought about it all very quickly. You could see him going to James Tavernier and telling him what was about to happen, to let Thistle score and move on from there.
"I could understand fans being upset at that time but, for me, it was a top response from a top manager. It's also about how Rangers want to present themselves as a club. Beale got it spot-on in that regard.
"I have to say I felt a bit of sympathy for Tillman. For one thing, the goal was great! The way he went past the goalkeeper and avoided another defender was so skilful. It looked like he was shocked by the reaction of the Thistle players when he was pushed over. Again, I think that showed he didn't know the situation. But he soon realised.
"I can try and put myself in his place. At first, you would be surprised about the opposition being allowed to score after you'd done your thing. Of course you would be.
"But, if Walter Smith had come to me after a game in my days at Rangers and explained the whole situation, I would have understood completely. I certainly wouldn't have felt angry or disrespected by my manager. Not at all.
"I'd think it would be the same for Tillman. I don't know him, but he comes across as a level-headed, quiet young man.
"He won't have experienced something like this in his career before ? I never did in mine -but the way Beale handled it means it's gone now. He can look ahead to the next game, the next performance, and continuing to shine on the pitch."
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