Ian McCall was sent soaring in Michael Beale’s estimation when a message of good luck from the Partick Thistle boss dropped through his London letter box.
But the Rangers boss knows his friend will be out to deliver something altogether more unpleasant when the Jags visit Ibrox tomorrow night in the Scottish Cup. Beale has formed a close bond with his Firhill counterpart since first following Steven Gerrard to Glasgow and has grown to see the Thistle gaffer as a capable mentor for the young Light Blues loanees they have placed in his trusted hands. For McCall’s part, he certainly seems to have nothing but respect and admiration for the man he’ll be squaring up to across the dugout for the last-16 showdown.
As gestures go, the warm note he dispatched to Loftus Road following Beale’s summer appointment at QPR was seen as a nice touch by the man now sitting in the Ibrox hotseat. McCall may be first class in Beale’s eyes but the Ibrox manager is wary a second-rate display against the Maryhill men runs the risk of Rangers – like fourth-round upset victims Aberdeen – being posted missing when the quarter-finals draw is made.
