BEALE: I’M NOT DON, DESPITE A HORRIBLE DAY
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SCOTT MCDERMOTT
BY UNDER-FIRE Michael Beale last night vowed to battle on as Rangers manager – despite falling further behind Celtic in the title race and being booed by Ibrox fans.
His side were beaten 3-1 at home by Aberdeen that leaves the Ibrox boss clinging on to his job.
Gers are now seven points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of the table, having lost three of their first seven league games.
And Beale (inset) now has to galvanise his players ahead of a Europa League tie in Cyprus on Thursday before taking on in-form St Mirren on Sunday.
The home side missed several chances before defender Stefan Gartenmann scored his first Dons goal after 38 minutes and the Light Blues left the pitch at half-time with the boos of the Gers supporters ringing in their ears
Dons midfielder Jamie Mcgrath added a second in the 68th minute before Rangers’ half-time substitute Scott Wright was sent off for picking up a second yellow card.
Abdallah Sima reduced the deficit in the 75th minute but Pittodrie defender Jack Mackenzie scored a third with five minutes left and the home fans stayed behind to vent their frustration at the final whistle .
But despite the majority of Ibrox punters already making up their mind on his future, Beale is adamant that he’ll fight to turn it around.
He said: “It was a horrible day and a terrible result. The coming games will tell if we can turn it around.
“Coming into the game, I couldn’t see that result. And we didn’t deserve that outcome.
“Am I confident I’ll get the time to turn it around? That’s someone else’s decision. All I can do is continue with the job the best I can.
“But it’s a bad result and I feel the fans’ frustration. It’s a situation that has escalated faster than I thought it would.
“I thought it was harsh to boo the players off at half-time. We conceded from a set-play but we had played well enough to be 2-0 or 3-0 up.”
If Beale does lose his job, his summer recruitment will have played a massive part in it. Of his nine new signings, only keeper Jack Butland has performed to a top level.
And £4m striker Cyriel Dessers put in another poor performance yesterday and was booed off by the fans.
Beale said: “Cyriel has found it difficult but, given time, he will show his quality. But the whole squad is accountable – and the staff too.
“But we shouldn’t concede three at home.”