Michael Beale makes 'fine margins' Rangers verdict as…

Michael Beale makes 'fine margins' Rangers verdict as he provides Kent and Morelos future update

Michael Beale reckons Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent will have played at Hampden for the last time in a Rangers shirt after the pair flopped in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic.

Kent was restored into the starting XI but was subsequently hauled off at half-time for Fashion Sakala after Jota had given the Hoops the lead. And Morelos didn't offer much better as Rangers hopes of lifting silverware this season were blown away as they failed to recover from Jota's elusive opener. Beale's men created opportunities, most notably Sakala missing an open goal following a James Tavernier strike but the reality was grim for the Light Blues boss, who is firmly aware of the backlash that will now come his way in the aftermath.

Beale replaced both Kent and Morelos during the clash and he conceded that the contract rebel pair aren't in his long-term plans. When quizzed on their futures and the summer that lies ahead to build the Ibrox club back stronger for next season, he replied: "Possibly, yes. Listen, knowing when I came into the club that this was going to be a summer of change in terms of personnel, I don't want to go too far into that now after today's game. I would rather just analyse the game.

"I thought in the game we played well - we were in the game the whole time and we were disappointed today in terms of not being able to get a result because I thought we performed well enough to get one. Longer term for the club we know there is going to be some change in the summer - I think everyone is aware of that - and obviously we will look to move to that because we don't want to be feeling like this at this stage of next season."

The Londoner also believes the semi-final panned out the way he expected it to for the most part. Although he knows it's impossible to compensate for fine margins such as Sakala's gilt-edged miss that didn't go in his side's favour, which could've sparked a Rangers revival.

He said: "Yeah, we had as much of the game as we could have wanted, as many chances as we could have wanted before the game as well. It has come down to us switching off in a moment and unfortunately in a couple moments in their box. I think Joe makes a big save on a scramble in the box and obviously we hit the inside of the post and missed the rebound.

"On today, there is a case of what if but over the season it's not good enough in the fact that we've fallen short in winning silverware for our fans and the club."

Rangers only really have pride to play for during the remainder of the season because Celtic can clinch the Scottish Premiership title with a win over Hearts at Tynecastle next weekend. And Beale admitted the players are hurting as he once again rued the fine margins that decide these top matches.

He continued: "I can see it, I live with them every day. It's fine margins, we are playing against a team today that has won two trophies to our zero this year and has got a huge opportunity in the final to win a treble. The difference on the day between the teams is not huge.

"We have to come back and improve - I'm sure they will as well - we need to find greater consistency, we need some fresh faces and a little bit more quality. A lot of the work we are doing is good, it just feels bitterly disappointing right now."