Rangers' Andy Halliday holds no Fraser Fyvie grudge

Andy Halliday insists he does not hold a grudge against Fraser Fyvie following last month's controversial clash with the Hibernian midfielder.

The 24-year-old was wrongly sent off during the top-of-the-table clash at Ibrox when Fyvie rolled away from a flash point with the Gers midfielder clutching his face, leading referee Bobby Madden to produce a red card.

Although cleared on appeal while Fyvie accepted a two-match ban for feigning an injury in order to get an opponent dismissed, Halliday was relieved as Mark Warburton's 10 men went on to win 4-2, which sent them three points clear at the top of the Championship.

"When I got sent off I watched the game in the tunnel and it took me two minutes before I said 'I can't watch this anymore'," Halliday said.

"I went into the changing room and had a shower and came out and hadn't heard any noise, which was what I was hoping for and then I looked at my phone and had about 30 texts saying '3-2'.

"It wasn't a nice feeling watching that game and I was just putting my club shirt back on and I heard the crowd roaring so I sprinted to the tunnel and I saw Waggy [Martyn Waghorn] had scored. It was a relief more than anything because I thought the sending off was unjustified. Thankfully the SFA saw that.

"I know Fraser as a boy and I would never call him anything bad. I have heard certain things said about him but I know he's a really good lad. He isn't that type of boy and I'm sure he regrets what he did. When he got offered the two-game ban he accepted it so he probably knew himself but there are no hard feelings.

"I didn't think it was a red card but I shouldn't have put myself in that situation to give the referee a decision to make. When I watched the replays on the telly from Bobby Madden's angle it probably did look like I head-butted him.

"It was a massive game and sometimes your passion can get the better of you - that is something I will need to control because there will be other big games like that ahead."

Halliday has been converted into a holding midfielder from a more attacking position since he returned to his boyhood club, and he said he would have "no qualms" about carrying on in the role. He is likely to face stiffer competition for a midfield spot next season, however, with the impending arrivals of Josh Windass and Matt Crooks.

He said: "The holding mid role has been new for me but it's something I've enjoyed because you get on the ball a lot. It was going to take me a little time to adapt to the new role and learn a few things. I've played 26 games this season and I'm still learning.

"I welcome any player who comes in and the competition is healthy but they will need to come and take my place off me, I'm certainly not going to give it up easy. However, I want every good player that is out there to come to Rangers because that helps us get us back to where we belong - in Europe and winning the league."