There will inevitably come a time when Rangers supporters demand their team win with at least an element of panache. For now, Michael Beale can take heart from the ability of a previously stuttering side to grind out results.
Beale remains unbeaten in seven matches as the Rangers manager. On the basis the Scottish title seems destined to be Celtic’s once more, this League Cup semi-final was Beale’s most significant occasion to date. It took an extra-time goal from Kemar Roofe to seal victory but Rangers progressed at Aberdeen’s expense. Celtic, of course, lie in wait in next month’s final.
Beale spoke after dust had settled on “anxiety” that lingers within his squad. “We need to stop that,” he said. “We need to win trophies every season. That is the demand at this club and we should demand it from each other.”
The reason Beale and Rangers are within their rights to place wins above performance levels is that for too long there has been little or no domestic return. The regular collection of trophies, should Beale preside over that, would add credence to routine statements about Rangers’ standing. This competition and the Scottish Cup provide opportunity for a team who have handily discovered belligerence.
Rangers’ case here was assisted by the Aberdeen captain, Anthony Stewart. The centre-back had a moment of recklessness when wiping out Fashion Sakala during stoppage time of regulation play. A red card was the obvious outcome. “He left his teammates in a very difficult situation,” said the Aberdeen manager, Jim Goodwin. “We have no arguments. The official has got it right.”
From there, Aberdeen understandably wilted. Roofe flicked home from close range after fine buildup work by Scott Wright.
The afternoon had started so promisingly for Goodwin’s underdogs. Bojan Miovski showed great composure to lob Allan McGregor after Matthew Kennedy had rampaged on to a through pass. Miovski was offside in that earlier phase of play, which seemed to confuse the Rangers defence long before Kennedy crossed into his path.
Rangers looked to be running out of ideas – with Beale planning changes – before Ryan Jack drew his team level. Jack’s low drive took a heavy deflection off Liam Scales on its way in. A taut, fiercely competitive game immediately looked as if it would be decided by Stewart’s craziness but Scales and Hayden Coulson came close to dragging Rangers into a penalty shootout. “There is a real sense of pride in terms of effort and commitment we gave,” Goodwin said. “We frustrated Rangers a lot. There wasn’t a great deal in the game. The players can be extremely proud of their efforts.”
Roofe, who has endured a series of injury issues during his time at Ibrox, had to be removed after landing awkwardly on a shoulder. The forward will undergo an X-ray on Monday.
As Rangers celebrated, it was worth contemplating on a grim weekend for the image of Scottish football. This semi-final was played on a rutted surface unsuitable for a marquee fixture. “The pitch is in a really bad state,” said Beale. “We need to have better than that.” Goodwin described the field as a “major disappointment”. He added: “It didn’t suit either team.”
The VAR system failed during extra time, prompting an announcement that it would not be in use for the remainder of the game. VAR was soon up and running again, with the Scottish Professional Football League citing a five-minute “technical issue”.
A day after Celtic’s support indulged in sectarian chanting during their win over Kilmarnock, the song book from the Rangers following was no better. And this, at the national stadium with the game’s main executives watching. There should have been red faces among that group, whose scandalous inaction over sectarian verse only allows it to continue. More of the same is, depressingly, an absolute certainty when the Old Firm face off on 26 February. Welcome to 2023.
