Rangers boss Michael Beale hails ‘good character’ in their Premiership win over Hibernian

Michael Beale last night hailed the character of his players as his Rangers tenure started with a thrilling Premiership victory over Hibs.

The visitors took an early lead at Ibrox through Ryan Porteous’ header only for Fashion Sakala to level.

Lee Johnson’s side immediately restored their advantage through the returning Kevin Nisbet but a much-improved second-half display by Rangers saw Ryan Jack and Alfredo Morelos strike to turn the game on its head.

Michael Beale won his first competitive game in charge as Rangers boss on Thursday night

Alfredos Morelos scored the winner as Beale’s side beat Hibernian 3-2 in the Premiership

And although unimpressed with the way his side started the game, Beale felt the battling qualities of players were evident.

‘The first half was difficult. We didn’t perform very well,’ said Beale. ‘The second half was more like it but there’s loads of work to do.

‘I’m not going to sit in front of anyone and say that was a good Rangers performance. It wasn’t. I thought there was a lot of character and couple of moments of quality.

‘I’m delighted we took the three points but we need to improve before Tuesday (at Aberdeen).’

Beale insists his side ‘did not perform well’ during the match despite winning the game

Asked why his side started so sluggishly, he added: ‘I’m wondering if I fired them up a little bit too much for the first half. I wonder if I gave them too much energy.

‘I have to look at myself as well, maybe I spoke with too much emotion to them before the game and they went and played that way.

‘The group to be fair to them have had a lot of change in the last few months.

‘The one thing I would say is they showed really good character in the second half.

‘They started winning the duels. They started locking down, they played a bit closer together and a little bit quicker and they ran forward more.’

Beale was appointed as Rangers boss last month after Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s departure

Meanwhile, Ianis Hagi says he still has plenty to do at Rangers after signing a new deal at Ibrox.

The Romanian has been out since January after injuring a knee against Stirling Albion but is working his way back to full fitness following surgery.

‘I still have a lot of things to show and give to this amazing group of people in Rangers as well as the fans, I just can’t wait until I’m back,’ said Hagi.