'I’m sure Jim is feeling sick' - Rangers boss Beale admits work to do

Here is everything he had to say.

How would you assess that game?

I didn’t want to be a party pooper to the players but I think we need to be better. I thought they showed 10 out of 10 for character and mentality especially at the end when I made the four subs and asked us just to play a little bit freer and gamble a little bit. Delighted, obviously, that Scotty came up with the two goals. Learnt a lot again this evening, we started the game well then once something went wrong for us we didn’t look like we were together in the way we wanted to play. People were not not trying hard, I just think we made some simple mistakes from people maybe overly trying. We need to commit to the style and I was delighted we got the win because for a long period of time it looked like we were going to get beat.

There were a lot of good players out there but it’s not a cohesive team yet.

No, and I think you can tell they’ve gone through some trauma in the last few weeks and months. We didn’t start the second half well. I think most of the first half we were in good control, we scored a good goal and I was happy with the way we were playing. We were a little bit fussy in the final third. I thought Ryan Kent in particular first half was the stand-out. Right on half time we play a silly ball in midfield and don’t secure it and end up giving away a free kick and find ourselves 1-1. We don’t start the second half well. It’s a heck of a strike from a boy that I know quite well and then after that, we really struggled so we made the four subs, we changed the way we were playing and ultimately it’s come off tonight. Sometimes fortune favours the brave. I would probably say 10 out of 10 for character and mentality and five out of 10 for performance. We need to keep improving.

In terms of character, that’s two comebacks in two games so you have a foundation to build on?

Yeah, definitely. I think, for me, I can’t expect too much too soon. We’ve probably had 10 or 12 sessions and we’ve come into two games against a team fourth in the league and a team third in the league away. I’ve come here many a time and played well and not come up with a result. I thought it would’ve been harsh if we got beat, naturally, I’m delighted we won and I’m sure Jim is feeling sick tonight because I thought his team performed well. Fair play to him.

READ MORE: Detailed Rangers player ratings as Scott Arfield double slays Aberdeen

What does Scott Arfield’s temperament tell you to score twice at the death?

He’s been training ever so well and probably the form of Malik has been keeping him out. Malik did very well for the third goal as well but Scotty’s a boy that I love working with because he’s super optimistic. There weren’t many in blue shirts in that last 10 minutes playing with optimism I didn’t feel. He was the one that was gambling, he was the one that was willing to make the run in the box and it just shows you that in moments you need players to step up in big moments. I’m delighted for Scott tonight because it must’ve been tough to miss out the last two games because he has trained ever so well.

(Image: NQ)

Do you feel it’s points over performances at this stage?

Definitely, I think at Rangers or any big club it’s always points over performance in the short term and then you have to bring the other bit up. I’m a bit of a perfectionist in that sense. I want my team to play a certain way, I want them to be clean on the eye but the most important thing is to win. I thought we played in patches some nice stuff but we looked vulnerable defensively still. Until we can get the centre halves back in the team and the back four back how we want it to look, that’s no slight against any of the individuals, it’s just as a collective. Previously when I was here it was something we prided ourselves on. It’s great that we’ve scored six goals in two games, I’m over the moon with the two wins, I don’t want to sound downbeat I just know that we’ve got some work to do. It would be wrong of me to sit here and be dishonest about that. I think that’s clear for everyone to see. I’m delighted with the character of the team, delighted with the energy to keep going. We looked stronger against Hibs late on, we looked stronger against Aberdeen late on with our legs so question marks around fitness I hope will start to go away. We’re not short of character and togetherness, I just think, at times, we look a little bit anxious and there are going to be some conversations about that.

How big can Connor Goldson’s return be for you?

Fantastic that he’s back. I don’t think anyone realises other than myself, Connor and the rest of the squad how little he’s done. If it wasn’t Connor and it was a player I didn’t know, maybe I wouldn’t have trusted his body as much as I did this evening. For him to get through 90 minutes is fantastic. We’re getting to the stage now where Ben should be fine as well. I thought you saw that when Ben came on. I thought you saw that we looked a little bit more stable. Again, that’s nothing against John or young James that have played there in the last couple of games but they are midfielders. I’m just delighted to get out of here with three points because I’ve come here before and dominated games and gone home with nothing or a point and it’s hurt the football club. To go back with three away from home is a good sign. We go again on Friday.