Michael Beale suffered his fourth Old Firm defeat as Rangers manager on Sunday. From six derby fixtures, he has won just one and drawn one.
Beale and his side were booed off by a disgrunted Ibrox crowd after Kyogo Furuhashi netted the only goal of the Premiership clash.
Here is Beale's Old Firm record game by game as he seeks to close a four point gap in the title race and beat Brendan Rodgers to the silverware.
Rangers 2-2 Celtic
Premiership
January 2, 2023
Four successive wins over Hibernian, Aberdeen, Ross County and Motherwell saw Rangers build up a head of steam in the opening weeks of the Beale era. Unfortunately for the Englishman, it wouldn’t carry his side to Old Firm victory as his first experience of the derby as a boss ended in a draw.
Rangers were behind inside five minutes as Daizen Maeda netted but a Ryan Kent effort and penalty from James Tavernier turned the tables.
Ibrox believed a win that could have altered the title race was on the cards.
Beale’s side couldn’t see the game out, though, and Kyogo earned Celtic a share of the spoils in the closing seconds. It was the mark of champions and a crucial result in their Premiership defence.
Rangers 1-2 Celtic
Scottish League Cup
February 26, 2023
Rangers had shown that they could overcome the rest with Beale in charge. Beating the best side in the league was a very different proposition, though, and hopes had faded that a potential title challenge was on the cards after that Kyogo effort at Ibrox.
And it was the Japanese star that inflicted an even bigger blow on Beale as he netted twice at Hampden to set Ange Postecoglou’s side on their way to a domestic clean sweep.
Alfredo Morelos pulled one back for Rangers midway through the second period but it wasn’t enough for a shot-shy outfit that failed to fire in the final.
Beale opted not to start either of his new recruits – Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin – and came in for criticism afterwards. The chance to lay down a marker and earn a medal was squandered.
Celtic 3-2 Rangers
Premiership
April 8, 2023
It was that man Kyogo that inflicted the fatal blows on Rangers once again. This win didn’t make the title a mathematical certainty but there was never going to be any way back for Beale’s side after his second derby defeat.
James Tavernier netted twice – including a stunning free-kick – to reach his century of goals but Jota was also on target for Celtic on a day that summed up the so near yet so far feeling around Beale’s side. A John Souttar error for the third goal rounded off another afternoon to forget.
Rangers were now without a victory at Parkhead in their last six visits as they fell 12 points adrift of Postecoglou’s side and this was a reminder of the considerable task that Beale faced to turn the tide in Glasgow.
Rangers 0-1 Celtic
Scottish Cup
April 30, 2023
The last chance at an Old Firm win that really mattered and the last shot at glory in a wretched campaign. Unsurprisingly, Rangers came up short once again.
This semi-final defeat all-but gift wrapped the treble for Postecoglou’s side as Jota capitalised on some typically erratic defending to score the only goal of the game.
Beale labelled that moment as his side shooting themselves in the foot and promised big changes to come as he looked ahead to the summer transfer window.
Tavernier, Alfredo Morelos and Fashion Sakala all had chances, but it was Celtic who were more composed and clinical once again as the Ibrox squad that had underachieved so often failed to deliver when it mattered for one last time.
Rangers 3-0 Celtic
Premiership
May 13, 2023
At the fifth time of asking, Beale finally had an Old Firm win to his credit. It was an achievement to be proud of, but certainly not one to get too excited about given the situation that both sides found themselves in for the Ibrox clash.
Celtic went on to lift the Scottish Cup just days later in what proved to be Postecoglou’s final match in charge. He departed Glasgow with the bragging rights and the medals in his head-to-head with Beale.
Rangers produced a fine showing and were more than worthy winners after Cantwell scored inside five minutes and Souttar made amends for his Parkhead error with a terrific header.
A Sakala effort in the closing stages added a shine to the scoreline that was merited for Beale’s side but nobody at Ibrox was getting ahead of themselves ahead of a hugely significant summer on and off the park.
Rangers 0-1 Celtic
Premiership
September 3, 2023
Beale needed a performance from his side. More importantly, he needed a result to ease the pressure after a lacklustre start to the Premiership campaign.
Rangers were still reeling from their nightmare in Eindhoven as they were dumped out of the Champions League and this wasn’t the response that the Ibrox crowd were expecting or demanding.
That man Kyogo was the Celtic hero once again as Brendan Rodgers won on his derby return and saw his side move four points clear of their title rivals in the Premiership. Time will tell how significant a result it proves to be.
The furious reaction from the home crowd spoke volumes after a largely woeful showing. Beale had to be bullish in the aftermath but there was no getting away from the damage that had been inflicted as Celtic emerged victorious once again on derby day.
