More guile & style will do the click

Beale backs returning crocks to inspire Gers

- DAVID MCCARTHY

RANGERS have taken plenty of stick in the last week or so.

In fact, it has been flying their way almost since that opening-day defeat at Kilmarnock so they are due a bit of credit for the manner in which they reached the Viaplay Cup semis on Wednesday night.

With an injury list stretching the length of Edmiston Drive, to beat Livingston 4-0, and with a little bit of swagger at times, is worthy of a pat on the back while recognising Michael Beale's team are still miles off where they need to be if they are to end Celtic's domestic dominance.

Beale, normally a pretty amiable individual, was a little bit spiky after the victory. Clearly, the flak has got under his skin. Yet, he was the one who agreed that the performance against Motherwell on Sunday fell way short of the standards expected of the Ibrox support.

But there are no pictures on a scorecard. Rangers won that game and since the international break have reeled off four straight victories without the concession of a goal.

That has been achieved without Todd Cantwell, Tom Lawrence, Nico Raskin, Danilo and Rabbi Matondo, all of whom won't be back until the three games that remain before the next international break are negotiated.