MICHAEL BEALE shouldered the blame for a below par performance but demanded more from Rangers after their win over Partick Thistle.
The Scottish Cup holders booked their place in the quarter-finals at Ibrox as Antonio Colak, Malik Tillman and James Sands found the net to secure a 3-2 victory on a dramatic afternoon.
Rangers were off the pace for large spells and Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell were hooked at the break as Beale sought to spark his side into action.
An improved second half showing saw the Light Blues come from behind as a Kevin Holt penalty and controversial equaliser from Scott Tiffoney ultimately weren’t enough for the Jags.
Beale now has 12 wins from his 13 matches as manager but was left disappointed by several aspects of the performance as Rangers progressed into the last eight.
Beale said: “I think today might be on me a little bit. It was me who played the team that started and maybe I was a bit too optimistic with the team I put out.
“I trust them, we had a lot of internationals in the team but I think since I have come in the consistency has helped us get results.
“Seven or eight have played a lot. If you look at the teams doing well they have a consistent core.
“Maybe I need to look at myself. You give opportunities and you hope they come together and performance but we didn’t first half.
“There would have been no harm done if we got in at 0-0 but we were a goal down and I had to act as the manager.
“I had to try to change the dynamic of the team. We changed the formation and we got over the line.
“They train together every single day so they have ample opportunity to build their relationship. I just felt that everyone was coming to the ball first half and second half we played down the sides more, we ran more. That is how we got a penalty, that is how we got our goal.
“Second half we were much better but first half I felt, for whatever reason, we weren’t quite at it as much defensively as we weren’t in possession. Our pressing wasn’t there.
“Think back to two weeks to Hearts where we pressed collectively as a team. I came away from that today so that is on me a bit. I will protect the players.
“But what I will say is that there were a lot of good players in that starting line-up today and they owe it to each other to perform at a higher level in my opinion.”
