Michael Beale fires back at Rangers mentality snipers as he points to European joy for Celtic derby inspiration

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Michael Beale has hit back at the 'cheap' shots aimed at the mentality of his Rangers side as he backed his team to spring an Old Firm surprise.The new Ibrox gaffer will get his first taste of derby action as a boss when Gers welcome Ange Postecoglou’s side for the New Year's showdown at Ibrox on Monday.

Gers must find a way of stopping the rampant Premiership leaders if they’re to retain any hope of turning the tables on their title rivals.But Beale has no concerns about the mental strength of his team as he pointed to the bottle shown by the team on last season’s march to Seville.

The Londoner - who hopes to have Alfredo Morelos available to lead his attack - said: “It’s another opportunity for the team to demonstrate their mentality, to show where we are.“I think at times last season, in Europe and coming back to play in domestic games in-between semi-finals, the sudden passing of a member of staff (Jimmy Bell) as well.

I don’t know where the questions on mentality are with this group?“I think that’s cheap, I think it’s poor to question the mentality of a group that’s shown last season – just five or six months ago – an unbelievable mentality.“To win against the odds when things were happening, when they weren’t able to train because of where they were, was unbelievable.