Rangers started their Scottish Premiership in the worst possible manner with a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock. Michael Beale spoke to the media post-match and here's everything he had to say...

Thoughts on the game? 

It’s not the start that we wanted at all. We had good control in the game for large parts and the lion’s share of possession but Kilmarnock defended extremely well. We had a couple of moments at the end of the first half where we need to come away with a goal. We had 18 shots but I can’t remember our goalkeeper being tested enough. In a stuffy game, when you’re struggling to create chances - you can’t concede the kind of goal that we did. It’s bitterly disappointing but we can’t do anything about it right. It’s disappointing for the players and staff but ultimately the fans, who’ve been excited this summer so there’s a bit of realism with that result. There’s work to do but we will bounce back on Wednesday. 

Surprised by that result and performance? 

I wasn’t surprised because I knew it wasn’t going to be a beauty contest coming here. I knew it would be difficult and it’s difficult to play against Derek’s teams. He’s very good at setting his teams up defensively and I knew the pitch would play its role as well. I wasn’t surprised that the game wasn’t free-flowing. We had a lot of possession in their half but we couldn’t find the right moments. If you can’t score a goal then it’s important to keep a clean sheet but the goal we conceded was damaging.

Brought in so many players, was it always going to take time to gel?

I don’t want to go down that road because it would seem like a bit of a cop-out. Kilmarnock played well today and we were a bit stuffy. They’re quality players, they’ve had four or five weeks together and there are a lot of new players coming in. There were enough players on the pitch today, who knew what this was about and we had enough of the game - but we couldn’t find the answer. 

You had a good away record after your arrival last season, what was the difference today?

I just think we didn’t find the key moment. We had a big one at the end of the first half when Cyriel didn’t get his shot off. It was a stuffy game and you’re looking for someone to show that moment quality. I don’t think everything was bad, some of our play was good and I think Nicolas Raskin was probably our best player and he tried to drive the team forward. He cut a frustrated figure at the end because we couldn’t find that moment of quality. If you have as much possession as we had then you’d like to work the goalkeeper more.

READ MORE: Instant Rangers reaction: Kilmarnock defeat sparkes inquest

Does this change your thinking in the transfer window?

No, nothing has changed. There is a little bit of uncertainty with one or two players who aren’t here today, they’re on their way out of the club it’s a matter of time before they move on and this group is coming together. Look, there wasn’t a lack of effort if anything there was a little bit of a lack of connection. The games are here, they’re not going anywhere. We play a team in Servette in the week who beat a very, very good Genk team and showed lots of quality themselves and so we will go to Ibrox needing to bounce back, then to play Livingston. All we can do is play the games ahead of us. Clearly, today was hugely disappointing for everybody but all we can do is move forward quickly.

Can you talk us through leaving Cantwell out?

Yeah, I can. I didn’t feel the first part of the game would suit Todd, I thought the game would open up. He came on and clearly tried a little too hard in moments, there’s no issue he will be available for selection on Wednesday and we’ll see.

How do you think Sima and Dessers did?

Ok, I thought the moments fell to them. I thought at times Sima took us up the pitch well, it’s difficult coming here even for those that experienced, they’re two internationals but they’ve not played too many games like today, which was a highly energetic, Scottish first game of the season. I thought Kilmarnock brought lots of energy and passion to the game. Ok, there were moments where we could do better those two included but listen they’ll be fine and over the season prove they’re very good players. 

Any concerns about playing Goldson on that pitch?

A little, but no more than Souttar and Balogun. This week you have those three senior centre-backs fit and the plan was for Connor to play an hour and see and he felt fine. I thought to be fair to him he had a decent game. 

Will this be an eye-opener for some?

Maybe but we weren’t beaten by any moments of quality today, it wasn’t as if we didn’t have possession of the ball and the stats will prove all that. We just didn’t find a way to score. I felt some of our build-up was a bit stuffy and lacking in connections. That’s the work for me and these players to do quickly. But I don’t think any of these players were caught unaware by the type of game it was. I just thought Kilmarnock got under our skin, worked really hard and defended their box very well and they didn’t make a mistake like we made in a crucial moment of the game. The moment they score it, their energy retains and goes up. At the end of the first half we had one or two moments and that’s the big story of the game for us you have to take those when they come.