Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday isn't having it from Rangers fans who have had a go at Michael Beale for his handling of Malik Tillman's controversial goal against Partick Thistle.
Because Tynecastle playmaker reckons he was simply protecting his own player from the storm that would have followed if he HADN'T given Partick Thistle a goal back. Beale ordered his team to let the Jags equalise in the Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox after Tillman had taken the ball from Kevin Holt as he went to return the ball to Rangers and scoring.
Boos rang out from some home fans but Beale said after the game he was "upholding the standards" of the Ibrox club by chalking off the goal. Fans then fired back as a banner was unveiled at Livingston for their following game which read “Two trophies in 11 years - uphold the standards that matter” but Beale has stood by his decision.
And Hearts star Halliday reckons he's quite right. He spoke to a Rangers fan on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard who highlighted that Tillman would have got it in the neck had his goal proved to be the winner and that Beale took the heat off the American and put it on himself by ordering his side to stand aside and let Thistle equalise.
And Halliday agreed as he said: "I think a lot of people have overlooked it and I've seen a lot of playing saying he's thrown Malik Tillman under the bus after the challenge. It's the exact opposite, he's protected the player.
"It would have been quite easy to be selfish as a manager and say 'no, we scored a perfectly fine goal, we're winning 2-1.' But no, he's recognised that Tillman had no ill-intent in going to press the ball and scoring the goal. I think Beale has done the right thing and acted appropriately and accordingly."
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