Chris Sutton shares Michael Beale Rangers sack verdict ahead of Old Firm clash v Celtic

Chris Sutton believes Michael Beale “can’t really afford to lose” when Rangers face Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday after their Champions League exit.

The Gers were thrashed 5-1 by PSV Eindhoven in midweek to crash out of the Champions League before the group stages, condemning them to the Europa League instead.

And Sutton feels that despite Brendan Rodgers’ tough start to life as Celtic boss in his second spell, Beale is the one “under the cosh” going into the first Old Firm derby of the season because he is already past the point of grace periods.

“Brendan Rodgers looked as if he may be the one going into the showdown under the bigger scrutiny. But, after events in Europe, I now believe it’s Michael Beale who is under the cosh with much more to lose,” he said in his Daily Record column (2 September).

“It is actually more infirm than Old Firm at the moment because both sides go into the match weaker than at this stage than a year ago. No doubt Rodgers hasn’t got Celtic going yet but he’s just at the start of his second spell.

“With that in mind Beale has got to be the one under serious strain after that Champions League nightmare. His team were absolutely walloped in Eindhoven by PSV. It was a brutal beating.

“Sure Rangers have a revamped team, but it’s not like the manager has just walked in the door. Beale had 23 league games last season. This isn’t a new boss still getting his feet under the table. He’s well past the point of grace periods.

“It’s no disgrace not to make the Champions League groups. PSV were a tough assignment but the manner of the loss was sobering. Beale can’t really afford to lose on Sunday.”

Pressure

There is no doubt that this is the biggest game of the season so far for fans because of the result of the game in midweek, and Beale has raised more questions than he has provided answers right now.

The boss has got his own squad in after nine summer arrivals and on deadline day he confirmed that he was happy with the squad as it is, so there are no excuses now.

This is arguably the best time to play Celtic too. They’re struggling for form, light on numbers and our players should be hurt after the result against PSV and the performance that they turned in.

You could make the argument that Beale is yet to win a game that mattered as Rangers manager so far since taking over last year, and that has to change on Sunday at Ibrox.

If it doesn’t, then fans will rightly start to question if the right man has been backed to take us forward because there are only so many times you can lose the big one and claim to be seeing progress.

In other Rangers news, the club needed to sell to bring anyone in on deadline day.