Michael Beale got off the mark as Rangers boss as his side completed a dramatic comeback win in an Ibrox thriller.
The Light Blues faithful turned out in their numbers for a new era at the club following the sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and it was a night full of drama and goals as the home side came from behind TWICE to secure a crucial three points and reduce the gap to league leaders Celtic to six points ahead of their clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Ryan Porteous handed the visitors the perfect start heading home from from a corner. A very poor goal defensively for Rangers and one Beale will be keen to address on the training ground. Not long later the home side levelled after a stunning low drive from Fashion Sakala but remarkably they found themselves behind literally seconds later as Kevin Nisbet capitalised on another piece of poor defending to fire beyond Allan McGregor. Josh Campbell was then inches away from a third in the first period.
The second half was better for Beale and Co with Ryan Jack poking home from close range following a Malik Tillman flick before the USA international showed great skill to allow Alfredo Morelos the simple task of tapping home to complete the turnaround. Here are three things we learned from an eventful return to Premiership duty.
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Off the mark
Michael Beale got his Rangers era off to a winning start in an Ibrox thriller.
His side twice recovered from going behind to win 3-2 and cut the gap on Celtic to six points ahead of their trip to Aberdeen.
Great team spirit on show to turn the game on its head in the second period.
Beale will be hoping for less stressful nights in the days and months ahead.
But the most important thing was a big three points and he secured them after a few scary moments.
Defensive concerns
Rangers once again lost a goal to a set piece with the marking all over the place.
It has been a feature of the Light Blues' game in recent times and a big one that Michael Beale will need to sort out.
He will hope the returns of Connor Goldson and Ben Davies to full fitness in the not so distant future will tighten things up.
Kevin Nisbet's goal also came from a run through the heart of the make-shift backline.
Work to be done
It was the first game of the Michael Beale era and like all games he will pick out the positives and negatives.
The games come thick and fast for Rangers and they can't afford to drop any points or give away goals like they did tonight as they bid to chase Celtic at the top of the Premiership.
The new boss will analyse the performance and get the hard work underway to rectify the issues on the training ground.
Whirlwind start to life in the Ibrox dugout. Welcome back to Scottish football, Michael.
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