Andy Halliday wades into Rangers card clamour and reveals fair Dan Casey punishment

Ex Rangers star Andy Halliday has defended his Motherwell team-mate Dan Casey over the challenge that crocked Ross McCausland at Ibrox on Saturday.

Former referees Bobby Madden and Dermot Gallagher both said the Irishman - who went on to score the winner for the Steelmen - could have seen red for the tackle which left the Northern Ireland international on crutches.

Whistler Alan Muir didn’t even caution Casey and Euan Anderson in the VAR HQ at Clydesdale House opted not to refer the man in the middle to the monitor to review the incident. Halliday, who spent five years at Ibrox and came on as a sub for Motherwell in the latter stages of the victory, defended his team-mate. Halliday, on loan in Lanarkshire from Hearts, compared the challenge to Dujon Sterling’s earlier this season which DID earn him a red card against Aberdeen but which Halliday said at the time shouldn’t have been a dismissal.

Halliday told Radio Clyde’s Superscoreboard phone-in: “It’s a difficult one for me. I remember when Dujon Sterling was sent off for a similar incident. I defended him, I think it’s similar in terms of the force that they’ve both went into the tackle which was a big talking point from Dujon Sterling’s tackle and a big talking point from Dan Casey’s.

“I think a yellow card was the right decision for Dan. When you actually watch the footage Dan wins the ball, his follow through takes him through, and I don’t think the follow through with Ross McCausland is that (bad). Is it excessive force? Yeah, it is, but it’s not something I like using as a sort of barometer but I know referees do. Ultimately a yellow card was the right decision.”