MICHAEL BEALE insists it was the ‘right thing to do’ as he defended his decision to allow Partick Thistle to score a controversial equaliser at Ibrox.
Rangers continued their defence of the Scottish Cup with a 3-2 victory on Sunday as they secured a place in the last eight of the competition.
But it was the second Jags goal of the afternoon that was the main talking point after Beale instructed his side to allow the visitors – who were ahead through a contentious Kevin Holt penalty – to score and level the tie.
Thistle reacted furiously after Malik Tillman closed down Holt and scored as the Jags attempted to return the ball up the pitch following a stoppage for treatment on the American internationalist.
A classy call from Beale was met with an appreciative handshake and praiseworthy post-match comments from Firhill counterpart Ian McCall as he refused to blame Tillman for the incident.
Beale said: "If you watch the whole thing back, obviously I am watching it.
"Malik gets injured and we play the ball out, Malik is down on the floor and he doesn't see that we have played the ball out.
"So by the time Malik gets up two or three minutes later because it took time, or however long it took, he sees they have a throw-in and he puts his hand up
to the referee as if to say how have they got a throw and then he presses as he been taught.
"He is completely unaware of the situation, of what has happened. I had to speak to my bench to make sure that is what they saw as well.
"Malik came over and I spoke to him and he confirmed it. So it was the right thing to do. I will tell you why it was the right thing to do.
"Malik Tillman is a fantastic young player and I don't want that hanging around his head.
"He has never cheated anyone in his life and as a football club we have high standards. We don't need to do that to beat Partick Thistle at home.
"It was complete misunderstanding and not in fitting with the way the game was played and played afterwards. The players all managed to play the game well.
"If you watch the whole scenario back it was a misunderstanding, I am glad that we are through and glad we are not talking about that as the reason we are though."
