Michael Beale uncertain of Rangers future after ‘terrible’ Aberdeen result
Home fans stayed behind to vent their frustration at the final whistle as pressure piled on Beale.
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Michael Beale looked back on a “horrible day” after a 3-1 defeat by Aberdeen left the Rangers boss admitting his future is in the hands of the Ibrox board.
The home side missed several chances before defender Stefan Gartenmann scored his first Dons goal after 38 minutes and the Light Blues left the pitch at half-time with the boos of the Gers supporters ringing in their ears
Dons midfielder Jamie McGrath added a second in the 68th minute before Rangers’ half-time substitute Scott Wright was sent off for picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Gartenmann.
Abdallah Sima reduced the deficit in the 75th minute but Pittodrie defender Jack MacKenzie scored a third with five minutes left and the home fans stayed behind to vent their frustration at the final whistle as pressure piled on Beale, whose side already lie seven points behind league leaders Celtic.
The Gers boss said: “It was a horrible day obviously, a terrible result.
“We actually started really well. I thought Aberdeen were very compact and quite negative early on but we created three or four big chances.
“You don’t take them and we defend a set-play as poorly as we did and go in 1-0 at half-time.
“At that moment we could have done without Ridvan Yilmaz and Ryan Jack being injured because it compounds a light bench.
“We reshuffled, started the second half OK and conceded from a set-play so we don’t deserve anything from the game.”
Asked if he thought he will be given time, Beale said: “That’s somebody else’s decision. All I can do is continue with the job the best I can.
“We felt we prepared well enough tactically. We went over and around them first half and created the chances.
The way we played in the first half and the chances we made, I thought it was harsh to boo them off at half-time
“It’s a really bad result and I feel the frustration and despair from the fans because we share it inside as staff and players, because first-half we had enough chances to win that game.”
While understanding the frustration of the fans, Beale claimed their reaction at half-time was “harsh”.
He said: “Listen, it’s a situation that’s escalated much faster than I thought.
“The way we played in the first half and the chances we made, I thought it was harsh to boo them off at half-time.
“We conceded from a set-play but we had played well enough to be 2-0 or 3-0 up.
“I get the frustration, they follow this club all around the world.
“It’s the fourth home game in 10 days and pretty much all of them have been sold out.
“Sometimes the supporters could help the players but one or two could help themselves.”
It was a well-deserved three points for Barry Robson’s side, who have now won three games in a row after a poor start to the season.
The Dons boss was pleased for the travelling supporters who enjoyed the victory.
He said: “It’s three points. That’s what we are in the game for. I thought in the game we were structurally very good.
“We tried to frustrate them for the first 25 minutes then grow into the game and try and bring the things we are good at to the game and I think we did that well.
“It’s a good feeling and it’s great for the fans. They deserve it.
“They came here in numbers, they sell out when we are on the road, record season ticket sales and since I’ve come in as manager it’s been amazing how they have backed us.
“That’s a brilliant performance for them. That’s what we are in it for.”