'The best football was played by Rangers' - Michael Beale defiant

Here is everything he had to say.

What is your assessment of the game?

First half, we were extremely comfortable in the game, we were playing well. The boy makes a big save on the line from Alfredo, Fashion goes clean through one-on-one with the keeper and we miss then we hit the post. We have another chance with Nico where maybe he should square it for a simple finish for Malik so we go in at half time being the dominant team but being quite wasteful. Second half starts and almost straight away it’s a bit of a freak goal we give away. The crowd are up and then Aberdeen are pressing down. There’s a lot of stoppages in the game, a hard game to referee. I think in the build-up to the second goal, it’s a foul but we’ve got to play to the whistle and we’ve got to defend the far post better because after that we’ve got two massive opportunities. Probably a couple more half opportunities but certainly two big ones with James and Rabbi where we should score again. In both boxes today we weren’t good enough. We played some good football, that will get lost in the game. It was a difficult game, it was a clash of styles. For a long while we imposed ours on Aberdeen but when you are the away team and you’re on top you have to take your chances.

Was it a case of not taking your chances and you’re made to pay?

Yeah, of course. It was a bit of a freak goal, he’s miskicked it by 40 yards and it’s gone in - but that happens. Certainly here with the wind and the way it is. You know in that moment you need composure and you need to keep playing. One or two of ours might’ve been caught up with the atmosphere in here but we did create chances after that. Even at 2-0 we did create big chances, we’re in front of their goalkeeper and we have to take them. If we don’t then you’ll get beat, it’s disappointing. It’s not as damaging right now as what it would be at another time of the season. The damage in our season has been done before today but it’s a lesson for us coming back here next season. Aberdeen seem to be back to Aberdeen of old, they’re fighting for every challenge. We competed really well in the game, we were dominant until the first goal and then it was a horrible last 20 to 25 minutes with the amount of stoppages and the way the game was played out so it leaves a horrible feeling. I don’t want to take anything away from them, they’re in a good place but when you come away from home to Pittodrie and you have four chances like we had first half you have to score.

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Is it going to be difficult to lift everyone ahead of what is a huge game next weekend?

No, it’ll be a completely different game next weekend. The way the game will be played will be completely different so I don’t think there’ll be too much of a hangover. If anything it’ll be a bit of a jolt, a bit of a reality check to one or two. You talk before the game about how ruthless we have to be and it’s something that’s been dragging around with us a little bit. Anyone who watches us play regularly and our fans will tell you that, we miss a lot of chances that we create. Going forward if we’re going to win things and we’re going to compete over the course of the season we have to be more decisive in the box. Today, it was there for us. The best football was played by Rangers, that’s clear but we lost the game 2-0.

Will you have any injured players back next weekend?

Nico Raskin took a fitness test to play today. He came through okay but obviously, you think at a certain part of the game that there’s no point taking the risk. I would expect one or two back. It was just too soon for Scott Wright. Connor Goldson and Ryan Kent, you’re hoping will return to training this week so they're the ones that are likely to be back. At the moment, it’ll be this squad until I see otherwise.