Everything Michael Beale said after the game.
What did you make of the first goal?
They got in down the side. It’s a really tight call but I am someone who, if it is tight, I prefer it to go in the forward’s favour. VAR deemed it was onside so no problems. We had to respond and I thought we were in control the whole game, it was just our quality in the first half, certainly on our crossing, was really poor. We spoke about it at half-time and probably should’ve gone in 2-1. Fashion had a big chance off of the rebound and a really good free-kick from James. We spoke about our quality and speeding up our play in the wide areas with our running. Straight away at the start of the second half you saw that. Tav takes the one-vs-one on and it’s a great cross and header from Fashion. From that moment, I thought it was only us that was going to win. We seemed quite comfortable in the game and enjoying it. We shoot ourselves in the foot on the corner but again responded well. The only frustration today, similarly to away at Hibs, was that we should be scoring more. The same away at Hearts. But threes and fours away from home is not an easy thing to do. We’re capable of getting two or three more at the end if we were more ruthless.
Happy with the response overall?
The set-play is an isolated incident which we have to do better on. To be fair, set-plays have been strong of late. I’m disappointed in that but again, we keep going and trust in the way we’re playing. You can see we’re trying out some new things and I thought it was a strong performance. We took off two strikers and bring on Alfredo and play Malik with him, which is a slight change and something we have been working on. They came on and contributed well. Ryan Kent then went back more to the side as a classic winger. I was really happy with the game, I thought we were in control and should’ve won by one or two more.
READ MORE: James Tavernier praises Rangers teammate Todd Cantwell
That’s eight times since you’ve been back you’ve come from behind…?
It’s not ideal, but it shows there’s a faith and trust in your game to keep going. The game is played for nearly 100 minutes and I thought we ground them down. If you believe in the way you’re playing and keep playing, the chances will appear. I thought today it was a tight call [the first goal] but obviously the right one because VAR is there to help. We didn’t defend the whole moment well but after that I thought we were strong in the game. I have been involved in a lot of games for Rangers, not just since I’ve come back, to go away as consistently as we are and score the amount of goals is not a normal thing in terms of what I lived in this club. I want to praise the boys for their form away from home and finding a way to keep playing and keep winning. But can we be a bit more ruthless because we’re getting so many people in front of the ball, at times we will leave ourselves a bit vulnerable in the search of trying to score more goals.
Nearly 100 Rangers goals for James Tavernier?
I was laughing with him because he should’ve had the 100 today! His header, a shot on the left foot. For a full-back to get in those positions where he has to get 70 or 80 yards up the pitch and I suppose that’s what I am saying, at times you will leave yourselves vulnerable to allow Tavernier and Barisic or Yilmaz up the pitch. His contribution is fantastic, scoring and then that fantastic cross. His numbers are fantastic and that’s been like it ever since I’ve known him.
Is Cantwell a growing influence?
Yes he is, last week was a tough week with three games but he’s playing really well. He’s being used slightly differently to how people thought he would be. In terms of getting his numbers and goals, he got a nice assist last week and scores today. I’m delighted for him, he’s had a really bright start to his Rangers career and he knows there’s more to come - that’s the exciting thing.
What are the plans for the international break for your players?
We have got a few going away on internationals and then we've got three or four days we'll let the players have a bit of time with their families and then we're back in. We've been working on one or two new things you saw at the end of that game there. We're trying something slightly different at the back to try and get more players up the pitch so we will continue to work on that. We have got nine league games and a very important cup game when we come back so our focus is very much on enjoying a couple days with family and then working hard. It gives me a bit of time to sit down with one or two as well and give them a little bit of feedback.
Can you tell the fans why Ross Wilson is the right guy in that job?
Listen, I have always worked well with Ross and he came when I was already in the club the first time round. He was influential in bringing me back to the club - we work fantastically well every day. He is a 24/7 football person, similar to myself so our energy is the same, we're off working and looking at players and we control the atmosphere at the training ground - we're the two main figures there. I understand the fans' frustration, they don't know everything that goes on and the work at the club but I understand that they pay their money and they support the club and pack out every away attendance both domestic and in Europe, they pack out every game at Ibrox and they have a right to, in the right way, put across their opinion. But I would say since I have come back in that the form of the team has been really good, before that they can be disgruntled but now we are looking forward and moving forward. I would prefer it if we were all on the same page but at the same time, they are entitled to their opinion. I think the work going on behind the scenes and toward next season is exciting. It can't all be revealed now but I would just hope that we can make sure that we're together moving forward.
Do you sense it is going to be a huge summer in terms of recruitment, that is where Ross is going to come into his own?
Not into his own, it's not his sole job, it's the job of a number of people and what I really think is my job is ultimately to win games of football and make the fans happy winning games of football. That is what I am trying to do with the players, that's where my sole focus is. Everybody's aim is to win and make the fans happy, I understand the frustrations, they have a right to share their opinions and views but I think we are a much stronger club when we are together and hopefully sooner rather than later that will come back in line. It's important. There are enough people outside of Rangers who don't want us to do well, so let's make sure we're all together.
Do you feel there is an adverse effect on the team the longer it goes on because it seems to be quite sustained?
It's not something that has made its way into the changing room. We know as a playing staff and a management team that it has been disappointing at times this campaign but all we can do is keep winning the next game and winning well. We're trying to do that. We are here to serve our fans and to make our fans happy and to win things. When we fall short of that then they're obviously going to look to point fingers or share their opinion. That's fine, that's par for the course and we take that on board as players and staff, all we can do is keep winning the next game. So far, from what I can see, it's not something that is impacting the group because we are winning games but today because it's so visual it's there for everybody to see.
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