Dermot Gallagher hails Michael Beale sportsmanship live on Sky Sports after Rangers incident v Partick Thistle
Dermot Gallagher believes Rangers manager Michael Beale’s decision to allow Partick Thistle to score an unopposed equaliser following Malik Tillman’s contentious goal was absolute class, he told Sky Sports.
The United States midfielder was the centre of attention after he stole the ball from Kevin Holt, who was looking to return it to the Gers after the home side had kicked the ball out of play due to an injury.
After running through a static Partick Thistle defence and sliding his shot beyond Jamie Sneddon, Beale asked his team to allow their Championship opponents to score an uncontested goal from the kick-off due to the misunderstanding.
Speaking live on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch (Monday 13 February 12:32 pm), former Premier League referee Gallagher was full of praise for the Gers manager after emotions had been spiked in the entertaining Scottish Cup tie.
He said: “When you see this, you follow it through. The player is injured, Rangers kick the ball out, Partick take the throw after Tillman gets up. He doesn’t get treated on the field, that’s another thing.
“They take the throw-in to kick it back and it’s intercepted – ironically by Tillman, who was the player down. But Michael Beale, being the gentleman he is, tells the players to give a goal back.
“If you follow it through from the goal, there’s a wonderful cameo at the end where the player scores and I think it’s really good sportsmanship.
“The Partick manager then going to Beale to say thank you, that summed up the whole incident.”
Correct call
Beale showed some great sportsmanship to allow Partick to score straight from the kick-off, in a move that mirrored Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United a few years ago.
On both occasions, the manager realised that their players had made a mistake by netting an unfair goal, and both were correct in allowing the equaliser to be scored straight away.
The crazy five minutes of action was one of several controversial moments in the stunning fifth-round tie, which had absolutely everything in it. Five goals, a penalty and a late winner, created a feast of entertainment for the Gers fans watching from the stands of Ibrox.
Despite the madness of the game and the scare that Rangers were given, Beale will breathe a deep sigh of relief that his side progressed unharmed. With a Viaplay Cup final awaiting and a promising Scottish Cup run emerging, the Gers have a couple of great chances to pick up some silverware this season.
In other Rangers news, Keith Jackson believes a Gers player could be in line for a new contract despite a serious injury he recently picked up.