MICHAEL BEALE believes the togetherness shown by the Rangers squad will help them in the long run as they progressed to the UEFA Champions League play-off round this evening.
With Rangers leading Servette 2-1 from last week’s first-leg at Ibrox, the Swiss Super League side drew the tie level in Geneva before an improved second-half display from Beale’s men ensured they progressed as captain James Tavernier headed home the all-important goal.
The manager says the experience can benefit the squad moving forward, reflecting on the game, he said: “We didn't do well enough first-half, we were a little bit passive and obviously they scored and the crowd were up in the stadium.
“We went in at half-time and we had to have a strong conversation. We were much better in the second-half. It was a fantastic cross from Borna [Barisic] and that is something we have seen for a number of years from James Tavernier.
“It was a wonderful goal and after that we were unfortunate not to go and score one or two more. I have to say Jack Butland was outstanding tonight too and that's why we have recruited him.
“We know that in this first month of the season we have Champions League qualifiers, we have important league games and we have got the League Cup.
“We need to recover, we are playing every three days at the moment and by the time the international break comes around we will have played eight or nine games but that is the life of being a Rangers player.
“You need to embrace it, you need to enjoy it, you need to recover well and go strong again. I still think this team has got to go up three or four levels to get to where we want it to be but nights like tonight and the togetherness they showed will certainly help us in the long run.”
Beale was happy with the response he saw from his side after half-time, and the contribution of the full squad.
He continued: “Jose Cifuentes and Nicolas Raskin had decent games to be fair you could see how hard they worked. We got Todd [Cantwell] into good areas and you'd like to just be a little bit more precise in the final ball, I thought Cyriel [Dessers] and Sam [Lammers] came on and added to the work ethic of Abdullah [Sima] and Danilo.
“Early in the game today when you are 1-0 down you are looking for a response from the players and we certainly had that after half time and in the end, it was a good result and it is one that gets us through.
“I think we will need to improve next week for sure but before that our focus is on recovering and Morton at home in the League Cup.”