Andy Halliday's red card 'harsh' says Rangers team-mate Kenny Miller
Tuesday 26 January 2016 13:45, UK
Kenny Miller has called for a reassessment of the rules after watching Rangers team-mate Andy Halliday's latest controversial red card.
Rangers midfielder Halliday was handed a second yellow by referee Barry Cook when he raised a clenched fist in the direction of the home support after Barrie McKay had fired home his side's second goal during a 2-0 victory at Morton on Monday.
The decision outraged Ibrox boss Mark Warburton, who accused the officials of trying to take the joy out of football.
Halliday will now miss Saturday's Ladbrokes Championship clash with third-placed Falkirk but, unlike the dismissal he had overturned after his clash with Hibernian's Fraser Fyvie last month, he has no right of appeal as the Scottish FA only reconsider incidents involving straight red cards.
Miller said: "After seeing the incident with Andy, I think there's a lot of sympathy for him.
"When he first got sent off, I was angry because I thought why has he given the ref an opportunity to send him off? But when you see it again there's no offensive gesture, there's no running towards opposition fans, so he's going to be a loss.
"The rule could definitely be looked at. Whether it is right or wrong and only the ref will know that, gesturing - and I don't even think there was any gesture towards the opposition fans - I think sometimes common sense should prevail and there should be a case of looking at it if it is two yellow cards. But we'll move on and focus on Falkirk."
Miller netted his 12th goal of the season when he slotted Rangers ahead midway through the first half, but the Championship leaders were far from their best against a well-organised Ton side.
But he was pleased to see his side re-establishing their five-point lead at the top of the table with their fifth straight win, after Hibs closed to within two with victory over St Mirren last weekend.
"We showed a different side against Morton," said Miller. "We didn't bring our A-game, we had to work hard and grind it out and we got a bit of luck with the first goal. But we defended well and got another clean sheet.
"All credit to Morton, they've caused us plenty of problems this year with the way they have set up and they posed an attacking threat too. We had to find a way to win and we did that.
"We are firmly focused on us and we don't want to worry about other teams. But when teams play before you, it's important you close that gap and respond.
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"I think we have moved on since our dip at the end of last year. We have altered our shape, not the philosophy and ethos that we have, which has helped us to stop their counter-attack. We managed to nullify the threat posed by Morton. It's maybe a sign of how far we've come."
