I have worked with 22 permanent or interim managers at Ibrox since I got into this racket 53 years ago. I like to think I know instinctively what determines if they’re on a roll or about to face the firing squad.
Michael Beale is presently standing somewhere in between on shifting sand. It’s hard to work up sympathy for him. I’ve always believed he exerted undue pressure on predecessor Gio van Bronckhorst, with that high-profile appearance in the directors box when Gio was in danger of becoming the redundant.
But the Englishman has been treated savagely since the defeat from Celtic two weeks ago and, on a human level, it has been unpleasant to watch and hear.
The strain showed on his face at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning. But, since Willie Waddell in January 1970, nothing alters the basic requirement to win and avoid making excuses.