Michael Beale is expected to turn results around immediately following the international break at Rangers.
St Johnstone heaped fresh misery on Gio van Bronckhorst’s Champions League flops when Rangers last made a Premiership Perth trip.
And Murray Davidson reckons his old side will be out to pile the pressure on them again as Michael Beale’s under-fire Light Blues make their first run out since their Old Firm set-back. Beale’s predecessor was already under the cosh when he made the journey up the A9 last November.
The game took place just five days after a 3-1 defeat to Dutch giants Ajax rounded off a miserable return to European football’s top tournament as they were crowned the worst ever side to feature in the group stages. And van Bronckhorst’s days were effectively numbered as soon as his side allowed themselves to suffer another devastating domestic set-back as goals from James Brown and Nicky Clark gave Callum Davidson’s Saints a sensational win.
Pummelled by PSV in this year’s Champions League final eliminator and trailing Celtic by four points after last week’s deflating derby display, Beale is under huge pressure as he looks to cling to his job. The sharks are circling but retired McDiarmid ace Davidson has warned he won’t find safe waters in Perth against a side that can smell blood.
He said: “You’re always aware of pressure building on opposition managers and I’m sure some players do use it for motivation. I always thought that if a manager was under pressure, so would the players be. You have to play on that and use it to your advantage. Human beings are funny things and when the pressure is on it can be a difficult situation.
“I’ve been there myself. I spent the majority of my career at St Johnstone and experienced pressure. I never played for Rangers but I can imagine the pressure will be a hell of a lot greater for those boys.
“If St Johnstone can stay in the game and let that pressure build, it may make that three or four percent of a difference that allows you to get a result.
“Football can be a ruthless business at times. Last week wasn’t ideal for Rangers but it’s a club we all know has to be winning every week or pressure builds. I don’t know Michael Beale but I’ve heard good reports about the way he works.
“But listen, we’re five weeks into the season and for people to be coming under pressure so early, I just think it’s ridiculous. Rangers have had a big turn over of players and I’m sure given time he will turn it around.
“There are similarities with what Steven MacLean has gone through having to rebuild his St Johnstone squad this summer but the pressures are very different.
“Last year is proof that these kinds of results are achievable, especially at home when you can get the crowd behind you. The longer you can stay in the game, the more the away support gets edgy.
“Every year I was at St Johnstone we always managed results against the Old Firm. Of course it’s difficult but they’ve already done it at Parkhead this season so why not at home to Rangers?”
St Johnstone managed to claim that remarkable win last year without their old warrior Davidson, who sat the game out through injury. And they’re going to have to do it again without him now that he’s hung up his boots.
The midfield battler was part of a huge exodus of playing talent at the end of last season as new boss MacLean was forced to overhaul his squad. The McDiarmid men were written off as relegation favourites after a disastrous early exit from the Viaplay Cup,
But since then they’ve thumbed their noses at their doubters, claiming a brave Celtic Park point before battling back from two goals down to rescue another against Dundee just before the international break.
“The way that the Viaplay Cup group stage went wasn’t ideal,” admitted Davidson. “And then you look at the number of players that left. If you include myself retiring, 17 players I think have left the club, which is a hell of a lot.
“So Macca has had a hell of a job on his hands. I still speak to him most weeks as he’s one of my close mates.
“I know he’s brilliant at what he does and he’ll be working extremely hard to get this team going. I’ve got every confidence he will be successful and get St Johnstone away from the bottom.
“It was a positive result away at Parkhead and coming back from two-down to Dundee was another good point. I don’t know much about the new boys but I’ve heard some good reports. It will take time for them to settle in and patience will be needed but I’ll be rooting for Macca and St Johnstone to be successful.”
Davidson’s old side have upset the odds for years to record top-six success and unlikely trophy wins. That was down to a drive to prove wrong all those who doubted his team – and he reckons that desire still burns strong in the squad he left behind.
He said: “Most people will expect Rangers to come up to Perth and pick up the win this weekend. As a player I used to love playing these games against the Old Firm because nobody on the outside expects you to get a result.
“I actually loved just how many times people would write us off. But year after year we’d surprise people by doing so well. I remember speaking to opposition players who would essentially say, ‘You are just horrible to play against’.
“I loved that because it meant no-one found us easy and we’d prove that time and again by sneaking wee wins here and there. I used to go into games thinking, ‘I’ll show you!’
“I’m sure Macca’s side will be going out there to do the same against Rangers having been written off plenty before the start of the season.”
