Beale bemoans ‘ poor narrative’ around keeper
MICHAEL BEALE insists Jon McLaughlin shouldn’t be condemned for his Old Firm howler as he paved the way for the keeper to grab the Rangers gloves this term.
McLaughlin started the campaign as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first choice between the sticks but paid the price for successive 4- 0 defeats to Celtic and Ajax in September.
A change of custodian saw Allan McGregor return but McLaughlin featured against Dundee in the cup and deputised in Dingwall as Rangers earned a Premiership victory.
Beale opted to put McLaughlin back in for the win away to Dundee United on Sunday and a clean sheet helped secure three points as Fashion Sakala and Malik Tillman netted.
Rangers won’t make moves to strengthen the goalkeeper department during the January window and it could now be horses for courses for the remainder of the campaign.
Beale said: “Jon has come off and he’s kept another clean sheet and I am delighted for him personally as well.
“I thought it might be a game with a lot of set plays and that didn’t really pan out. Jon excels in that.
“I knew I was changing one or two other things in the team as well so he gives us that extra little bit of height in terms of coming to claim it.
“Also I feel this year the narrative around Jon is a poor narrative. In my time at the club previously and since I’ve been back Jon’s record per game
with wins and clean sheets is absolutely outstanding.
“He made quite a high- profile mistake but I don’t think we should condemn him. It’s important that I keep Jon focused and feeling like he is wanted and loved around here because he is.
“If I think it’s right [ I will use them both]. It’s nothing against Allan.
“Allan obviously came out a few weeks ago at Ross County for Jon to go in. I just had a hunch that this week or looking at this month I wanted Jon to play this game.
“We’ve played it and we’ve won and hopefully now some of the fuss can go away. We win with Allan and we win with Jon that’s a good sign.”