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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Lindsay Herron

Neil Banfield Rangers have been lucky admission as he hails near perfect Michael Beale start

Ibrox coach Neil Banfield reckons Michael Beale has had a near perfect stat as Rangers manger but admits they've been a bit fortunate too.

Rangers have won five and drawn one in Beale's first six matches in charge - and that was against Celtic when they lost a late leveller. The former Arsenal coach who worked closely with Arsene Wenger reckons that's been spot on, but admits there were some hairy moments especially at Pittodrie when Scott Arfield score twice in a minute deep into injury time to win 3-2.

Banfield told RangersTV: "We've ridden our luck once or twice but I think we've made our own luck with what the manager is trying to instil in the players. Overall, the five or six weeks we've been together couldn't have gone any better.

READ MORE: We 'signed' Todd Cantwell for Rangers in January transfer with trophy success for Michael Beale

"I think the squad are good and settled, and they are getting used to the work that the manager is putting into them. We are getting some good training in with them and we are getting some good feedback from the players and they are getting used to it, so it seems to be going in a good way."

Rangers have the chance to reach a first final under Beale when they face Aberdeen in the Viaplay Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday. Banfield insists the Ibrox men must be braced for the prospect of a fired-up Dons side.

He said: "To get to the final, we have got to get over Aberdeen. It is going to be a tough game. We have played them twice, they work hard at their game and they will pose us a lot of problems. Semi-finals are always hard games to navigate. Teams will raise their game against Rangers but we're looking forward to going to Hampden. It's a good game for the fans.

'It is a semi-final, which gets you closer to another final and to winning another trophy and that is what it is all about. It is about winning as many trophies as you can get."

READ NEXT:

- Rangers face Todd Cantwell transfer battle with Norwich 'turning down' bid from rival English club

- Celtic and Rangers Viaplay Cup semi-final referees and VAR announced as officials confirmed

- Celtic and Rangers Cho Gue-sung transfer alert as £4.2m rival bid 'launched' for key target

- Barry Ferguson 'good sign' Rangers transfer response after links with Todd Cantwell and Tom Davies

- Todd Cantwell Rangers link earns five-word response as Norwich City boss explains FA Cup absence

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