Rangers supporters did not bother waiting until full time to make their displeasure towards Michael Beale abundantly clear. The 64th-minute removal of Kemar Roofe triggered howls of derision from the Ibrox stands which only intensified when the Rangers players completed an ill-advised lap of the pitch after the final whistle. Just four games into the Scottish Premiership season, Beale is a man under serious pressure.
It is difficult to make a case for the Rangers manager. After something of a summer transfer revolution, just three new players – Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling and Cyriel Dessers – started this Old Firm derby. Sterling only featured because of a shortage of left-backs. It should be noted that just one of Celtic’s recent recruits, Gustaf Lagerbielke, started but they were not the team in need of a transformation. The best side in Scotland from the last campaign are already four points clear of their oldest foes. Rangers lacked the finesse and composure of Celtic here. It looks as if Beale is presiding over regression rather than progression.
