The Michael Beale Rangers prediction that Celtic defeat proved correct

A trip to the East End was far away from the doomsdays suffered in the past 18 months on the basis of performance, even if, most importantly, the outcome remained the same.

Celtic weren’t able to get into rhythm and race into leads as previous while Rangers played close off the ball, pressing with aggression and controlling plenty of the exchanges. What they lacked was highlighted the day before in Beale’s press conference, execution and winning the boxes.

“Ultimately it comes down to the boxes. These games are always tight and generally won or lost in moments. It’s important our big players step up,” the manager said previewing yesterday’s 3-2 Old Firm defeat. Unintentionally scripting a painful afternoon to come.

Beale wanted his players “to bring the best version of themselves to the game” and admitted this was an occasion that would demonstrate who would “step up and be counted”.

“It’s important those guys show their quality and if we get moments, we have to execute. We had big moments at Ibrox and Hampden and didn’t.”

Overall, Rangers’ approach was far more profitable than recent Old Firm meetings. Pressing in an aggressive 4-4-2 shape they managed to cut passing lanes and force turnovers all while keeping the game away from the final third where Celtic’s rotations can prove so dangerous. From the back, slick moves beyond pressure allowed passages of play to form higher up the pitch. It was a dramatically different backdrop to Hampden when their attempts on the ball were scrappy and line of engagement too low.

The difference? Difference-makers. In a game where margins were fine the home side heaved potential in their favour.

READ MORE: Michael Beale slams Morelos VAR call and makes Rangers transfer pledge

This game was lost because, aside from James Tavernier, players did not step up in big final third moments. There wasn’t an array of glaring misses but cluster of unfulfilled opportunities. Right from the first minute when Ryan Kent failed to be ruthless after winning the ball high, up until the final moments when he and Alfredo Morelos exchanged countless passes after working an overload.

Yes, Kevin Clancy’s decision to deny Morelos' goal at 0-0 and VAR’s refusal to overturn that call was wrong. Clearly. Give a foul for that and every single set-piece in football will see a free-kick awarded to the defending team.

“Only Alfredo's trying to play the ball, they both got a hold of each other, but Alfredo's numbers twisted around his back. I think it's a goal,” was Beale’s judgement.

After the restart, Ben Davies and John Souttar committed errors you quite simply cannot in this fixture to hand Celtic a two-goal lead.

And yet, in spite of all that, there remained scope for Rangers to win.

This was a game of moments, decided by those able to make them. In Kyogo, Celtic have a forward who’s dictated the outcome of all three recent Old Firm fixtures but the visitors could not count on any protagonist from their forward compliment. The reason this was a missed opportunity for the Ibrox side was that no one, Tavernier aside, could quite grab this game and turn it to their will. The ascendency enjoyed at the start of the second half was left precariously hanging, for the hosts to subsequently grab and exploit. 

Morelos missed two opportunities that, while not guilt-edged, were not dissimilar in quality to the shot Kyogo would finish just after the hour. These are the swings in football that set narratives.

There is a need for some overall mitigation. Beale’s still started strongly overall and clearly, this was a far better performance than the League Cup Final. Rangers were able to stifle Celtic in possession and the manager can't execute chances himself. Progress on a performance basis is clear even if professional football is judged on a results-quota. 

He’s inherited this gap but will know the longer a wait for Old Firm joy goes on, the more pressure will grow. The reason Beale's looking to the summer at each opportunity is not only for the luxury of training time but refreshment. Nico Raskin’s performance yesterday was a reminder that Rangers, of course, are not confined to the limitations of this squad. They need more young and able players, not scarred by previous defeats in this fixture, to hit the ground running and drive forward Beale’s vision.

Because, as the manager himself admitted, “no one will remember that we played well”. These games, this game, are there to be won and decided. 

This could’ve been a marker for Rangers but was instead laced with regret. Incidentally, it's only a win in this fixture that will help overcome yesterday's pain and point to progress.