Final lure will clear crocks
Hampden clash with the absent Malik Tillman, John Lundstram and Ryan Jack all rated doubts.
Gers remain nine points behind leaders Celtic after James Tavernier’s double and a Kemar Roofe strike secured a ninth straight win against the 10- man Lions who had Stephane Omeonga red-carded.
But with the clock ticking down towards the chance for Beale to lift a first trophy as boss, he said: “They are big doubts because they were not available today.
“But cup finals do strange things and people find it within their body for a game like that.
“Malik has a problem with his hamstring, Jacko has a problem with his calf and John with his ankle.
“I’m optimistic they will return to training at the back end of the week along with Scott Arfield. But it will be touch and go.
“What we had today might be what we have and I was delighted with what we got today from the players. I have had to take a few deep breaths when other players have gone down injured this week.
“But you have to trust your group of players. Everything I needed to see today I saw. Of course it’s a worry when you don’t have players available but that’s why you try to build a strong squad.
“That’s now six away games on the bounce we’ve won and that shows a lot of character. A lot of people would have looked at the game today and thought that run might end.
“We’ll now wrap the boys up as we have a full week to prepare for the Cup Final.”
Gers opened the scoring from a James Tavernier penalty and Beale was in no doubt ref David Dickinson made the right call after a VAR intervention checked if a pull by James Penrice on Alfredo Morelos was enough for him to point to the spot.
He said: “I thought it was a good decision from VAR as it was a clear penalty.
“The f ree- k ick was superb. I was the luckiest person at the stadium as I was right in line with it.
“I don’t think the keeper could do anything as it was so high up.”
Beale is also adamant he would have every faith in the line- up that started against Livi to be able to go toe to toe with Celtic and was delighted to see Kemar Roofe come off the bench to hit a late third.
The manager said: “The front three that started did what I wanted them to do.
“We tried to be a little bit more direct at times with our passing. Kemar has looked really sharp every day in training and has been able to train regularly.
“In the first one to two months he was training one or two days before games. He’s started to look sharp and came on today and did well and scored.
“It was touch and go whether I started him but I just decided that with this surface and his injury record, bearing in mind the other injuries we’ve picked up this week, it was best to keep him for the last half hour.”
Beale handed a debut to teenager Bailey Rice and added: “He’s only 16 and it’s not often a young boy plays for Scotland in Spain on the Friday afternoon and then comes back to make his debut for Rangers on the Saturday.
“What a debut for that young man.”