David Martindale has been quoted by The Scotsman as saying that “incredible” Rangers manager Michael Beale has pushed his Ibrox side level with Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic right now – despite Rangers remaining nine points behind.
Beale has watched his side win 12 of the 13 games he has taken charge – the other being a draw with Postecoglou’s side. It means that Beale has literally taken Rangers onto a level of playing field with Celtic, in terms of his record.
But, Celtic are all-conquering and Rangers have scraped through some matches – two injury-time goals at Aberdeen to win 3-2. Even on Sunday, Rangers had to come from behind to beat Championship side Partick Thistle in the Cup.
Livingston boss Martindale spoke ahead of welcoming Rangers to the Tony Macaroni Stadium on Saturday. He lavished praise on Beale, describing his job as “incredible” and claiming Rangers are on the same level as Celtic because of him.
“He has come in, he has done a fantastic job and him and Ange are now head-to-head, obviously Celtic have got that head start with the points they picked up previously. But it shows the job that Michael has done,” Martindale said.
“If you had said to Rangers, when making the appointment, that you are going to be in the cups, going to be unbeaten including a game against Celtic, I think they would have snapped your hands off for that. He’s done an incredible job.”
Martindale: Rangers manager Beale has pushed his side level with Celtic
Beale’s Rangers are churning out results, week in, week out. But the title race is over – Celtic remain nine clear and it would take a gigantic turn of events for Rangers to have a sniff. All the Gers can do is keep the momentum up.
They can still show Celtic they mean business in the remaining Old Firm League clash – and the League Cup final. Both Old Firm sides also remain in the Scottish Cup after Rangers beat Partick. Beale remains unbeaten as Ibrox manager.
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