GAME FOR A SCLAFF

Beale gets the statement win he so badly needs as Sima scuff puts smile on gaffer's face

- DAVID MCCARTHY

Is this a huge result for Michael Beale? You bet it is.

Just when the Rangers manager needed a statement victory, his newlook team delivered to get their Europa League campaign off to a superb start.

They had to work for it against a Real Betis side who were on top for 35 minutes before Gers got a grip of the game and never let go.

It took an ugly, scrambled finish from Abdallah Sima to deliver the three points but the goal was celebrated with all the gusto that has greeted so many huge European victories in Govan.

And maybe, just maybe, Beale and his team have recaptured the hearts and minds of the support who hadn't quite given up on them but had serious misgivings about the team that had started the season so shakily.

The last time Rangers had a home match in this competition, it was all a little bit different. May 5, 2022 saw RB Leipzig beaten 3-1 to send Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side to Seville and Ibrox's foundations were tested to the limit as the stadium throbbed with excitement and positivity.

"I'm Feeling It" was the song of the moment but 16 months later the support isn't even if they did give their team a rousing welcome.

Only four of those who beat Leipzig in that Europa League semi-finalJames Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and John Lundstram - were in last night's starting X1.

And as Real Betis came to town, the feeling that Rangers were stronger then than they are now wasn't easy to dismiss.

But this was the challenge for the current side - to prove the doubters wrong and get the support back on side, Beale was without the injured quartet of Nico Raskin, Todd Cantwell, Kieran Dowell and Danilo.