Michael Beale spoke to the media after the 1-0 defeat to Celtic. Here's everything that he had to say.

Thoughts on the game?

We started the game quite well. Obviously the first goal is clearly offside. The VAR decision I am not sure about, I think Cyriel puts his foot down and the boy kicks him. I think he is a lucky boy. I am disappointed that goes against us. Having said that, there is a lot of football to be played afterwards. It is a really poor goal, a goal that you cannot concede. It is an isolated moment, we almost concede the goal ourselves.

It is a good finish from the lad but we shouldn’t concede a goal like that. In the second half we pushed, we chased the game, we had big moments to score. We could have created more but we certainly had big moments to score and we didn’t. It is a bitterly disappointing day, it is not the result that anyone wanted. Obviously at this stage of the season it is not where we want to be in terms of points difference either.

Why didn’t it click in the final third?

We didn’t click because we didn’t score a goal but in the second half we had opportunities – Sam had a big one, we had a big one with Danilo as well. We have the chance in the first half that goes across and Cyriel can’t get there.

I think we score and the decision goes against us. It is fine margins. But I keep saying that. It is hugely disappointing. I felt today that the team pushed, I thought at times our use of the ball could be better, certainly in the second half. We still created enough opportunities to score today, certainly more than Celtic.

What do you make of the fan reaction and do you feel under pressure?

Well listen, I understand it when the results have been the last two. I understand the frustration with the fans. It is with the shirt. It is not just at Rangers, it is anywhere. It is a derby, a game where there is a lot of emotion involved and the fans expect their team to get a result and we didn’t.

READ MORE: Instant analysis - Michael Beale's men suffer defeat on dismal day

That is par for the course. In terms of pressure, you are always under pressure in this job. You are only ever a couple of results not going your way to feel that. The most pressure is the one we put on ourselves and we have fallen short of that today because I expected and wanted us to get a result. Over the course of the 90 minutes, I think the result is harsh on us but in terms of these games, they are only about the result.

Can you win the fans back?

Listen, I think the team can win the fans back by winning games of football and that is what they have to do.

Why was it so off in the first half and why did you resort to so many long balls?

I think there is a bit of anxiousness in the performance. I thought early in the game we started the game well and we tended to sit deep as a back four. We wanted to push the back four higher. You can’t have the front guys trying to press and the back four sitting deep. We spoke about it at half time and I thought the defence came up 15, 20 yards in the second half. We saw the result of it playing in. Is the connection between the midfield and the front players where it was in the past? Not right now, no. That is what we need to work on.

Is starting only two outfield summer signings a reflection of where the rest of them are?

When you lose six players that play in the front positions, you have to sign some. They can’t all play at the same time. That’s fair. The players can’t all play if they play in the same position, that’s obvious. We had to sign these players. There has been a lot said about the fees. I will tell you that you are miles out on who cost what, who cost this. You are miles out. We had to replace the players that went out. They have all contributed so far. They could all show a little bit more. But I don’t think it is a sleight on anyone that we picked Kemar Roofe today, or the form that Rabbi Matondo has been in. I don’t think it would be a sleight on anyone if Tom Lawrence started over a new signing. They are part of our squad.

We invested around £13million in nine players. It is not like we spent millions on one or two. We spent £13million on nine players. At times, the right balance has got to be sought out. That is where the team has to come together. It is after a defeat and all of those questions are going to come forward. Todays game was in our hands and we let it slip through our own faults.

You've chopped and changed the front three a lot?

I thought today that Kemar and Cyriel would play for an hour and run hard and press hard and get around the two centre-backs and Rabbi would play with them. Rabbi has been on fine form and at times today he showed his speed and what he can bring to the game. 

You look for a balance against what you are playing against and I thought that was the right balance today. Barring maybe one or two things going against us in the first half we might have sat here saying that it was.

Another defeat in a big game – what can you do to win back the fans?

The fans are going to be disappointed when the team lose. I get it. It’s the life of a football manager. I felt today there were enough moments in the game for us. If I’m looking at it as a coach did we create enough moments to score goals? We did, but we didn’t. Ultimately that buck stops with me. The fans are only going to be happy when we are winning games of football, I get that. Certainly in this game. They are not going to value performance and efforts it’s the result that is important.

Coming into the game I’ve got to be honest the result was hugely important to me as well, and the players. We are all on the same page on that. We are all disappointed that we haven’t got a result in another big game and we know that has to improve.

What do you make of criticism of individuals like James Tavernier?

I am not going to sit here and pillor a player. You are going to ask the questions and you’re going to go for the players. James is our captain. I think he has been a fantastic and is a fantastic player for this club. He is a right-back who plays against different wingers week in, week out, there is not a right-back in football he won’t be taken on once or twice. His contribution to the team is fantastic and if he wasn’t there everyone would see it straight away.

I don’t think there was anything in today’s game that was an eye-opener about James. I think that is harsh and it’s people picking holes for whatever reason. Are there areas of every player’s game that they can improve on? Of course there are. 

Does James play in a certain way as an attacking full-back, does he give us that width and go forward? Yes, he does. As our captain, I think James contributes enough for the team.

Do you feel your squad is good enough to win the league?

I do. But words are not worth anything if the team doesn’t go and win the big games. It’s the fourth game of the season and we are not where we want to be. There will be ups and downs in the season but it is clear we need to go on a run of performances and wins right now.

How long will it take for the team to come together?

I am speaking after a defeat. I don’t think everything at Rangers is broken and everything at Celtic is rosy after today’s game. Two teams played today, we made a huge mistake for a goal. We had chances to score and win that game and we didn’t. We have to dust ourselves down. We have two weeks now to work on the training pitch it is a good period for us barring the internationals who are away. And then we have to come back. I think we have five games in 15 days when we come back so it’s a chance for us in that moment to show improvement.

Did you speak to Dessers or the ref about the disallowed goal?

No, I’m not going to chase the referee or the fourth official. There is no point. They have gone to VAR and they have looked at it and they have made a decision. I didn’t see it until the end of the game and it’s view that Cyriel puts his foot down on the floor and the boy kicks the back of his ankle. That’s my view.