MICHAEL BEALE was delighted with the performance and result as Rangers defeated Livingston 3-0 in the Scottish Premiership this afternoon.
The Gers boss believes his squad were strong defensively as he praised the ‘collective’ display at the Tony Macaroni Stadium.
Speaking to RangersTV at full-time he said: “I was absolutely delighted with the performance, the result and the clean sheet - everything about it.
"It is not an easy place to come, most of the time when you play here it is not a beauty contest in terms of free-flowing football because of the pitch and obviously the energy, desire and commitment Livingston always give. They always make it very tough so that is about as well as I could've hoped for today.
“I thought defensively we were excellent, we knew we would have to be, we picked a very bold attacking team and even in that we know Borna and Tav like to get forward so there was a lot in the collective defensive performance.
“It was something I aimed at the team last week, I wasn't happy with us out of possession so if I am going to give feedback when I am not happy I have to be so positive with them when they do well and they did today.
James Tavernier netted from the penalty spot in the first-half before a superb second-half free-kick, with Kemar Roofe on target for the third goal of the afternoon.
The manager was happy for both players and with their contribution in Livingston this afternoon.
He continued: “I am delighted with James and that was a big moment in the game as well with them getting the second yellow card and us scoring the free-kick.
"It was an almost perfect one, how tight it was to the top corner and fair play to him because he is one of a number who stay out and practice. Also, the penalty after last week's miss to step up again and go and score I was delighted with him and I think he is getting closer and closer to 100 goals for Rangers now.
“I am also really happy for Kemar, he came back in the semi-final, scored and got us to a cup final and at the same time got injured. People haven't seen the heartache he has had and the frustration he has had in the last year but to get him back scoring is really important.”
Beale handed a debut to 16-year-old Bailey Rice as he came on late in the game, and the manager said he feels it is just the start for the young midfielder.
He added: “It is not often a boy plays for Scotland U17’s on the Friday night, flies home and is asked to come to the first-team squad the next day and it was a nice moment for him to get on.
“It is a reward for the work that he has done in the B team under David McCallum and the staff there and he has come over and trained with us a couple of times and I have liked what I have seen so this is almost like the starting blocks for him now the hard work begins.”