Michael Stewart has been left bemused by Mark Warburton’s comments on Rangers ace Andy Halliday.
Rangers manager Mark Warburton
Pundit and former Rangers youngster Michael Stewart has told BBC Sport’s Sportscene that he can’t understand why Gers boss Mark Warburton slammed midfielder Andy Halliday.
Rangers left it late to beat Dundee on Saturday afternoon, as substitute Harry Forrester popped up with a glancing header to snatch a 1-0 win in injury time.
The result will have been a major relief for under-pressure manager Mark Warburton, but the Rangers boss wasn’t totally happy with Saturday’s win at Ibrox.
After the final whistle, Warburton spoke to The Scottish Sun, and blasted Gers midfielder Andy Halliday for a scything tackle on Dundee’s Craig Wighton, suggesting that he could have been sent off, only for referee Willie Collum to book him.
Celtic’s Nir Bitton in action with Rangers’ Andy Halliday
Warburton suggested that Halliday’s recklessness could have cost Rangers, and players can’t afford to put their team in such a difficult situation by potentially being sent off.
Now, pundit Michael Stewart has spoken about the incident on BBC Sport’s Sportscene – and it’s fair to say that he was left bemused by Warburton’s comments.
Stewart claimed that, whilst Halliday’s tackle was a bad one, a yellow card was a fair decision from referee column, and he was surprised that Warburton even commented on the tackle itself.
Rangers manager Mark Warburton
Stewart thinks that if Warburton hadn’t have mentioned Halliday’s tackle, nobody would even be talking about – and instead, Stewart found Warburton’s comments ‘strange’ and doesn’t know why he even brought it up.
“It could have been, but it’s not a stonewall red card for me,” said Stewart. “I think a yellow card is not a ridiculous decision. I’m just surprised that Mark Warburton has highlighted, because if there wasn’t that sort of chat from Mark Warburton, then we wouldn’t be sitting talking about that. It’s a strange one, I don’t know [why he said it],” he added.
What did you think of Halliday’s tackle against Dundee?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
