Andy Halliday of Motherwell celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final match between Motherwe…Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Andy Halliday Rangers celebration decision makes Motherwell boss laugh
Andy Halliday refused to celebrate after scoring against Rangers last weekend.
The Motherwell midfielder threw his hands up after netting the opener in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
Jefte’s laughable defending was criticised over the strike but the moment of controversy seemed to come after the ball had hit the back of the net as Halliday acknowledged his boyhood club in a mark of respect.
Some critics and pundits questioned the 33-year-old’s decision to handle the goal the way he did.
The player himself, though, called out the hypocrisy from some sections and branded it “embarrassing” that he would be attacked over something that happens around the globe in football.
READ MORE: Andy Halliday on Rangers hero texting him during game to slaughter goal
Andrew Halliday of Motherwell is seen after scoring the opening goal during the Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final match between Motherwell and Rangers …
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
And he admitted he would do the same again should the opportunity ever present itself again.
Now Steelmen manager Stuart Kettlewell has come out swinging in defence of his veteran midfield man and armed with stats in his press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash with St Johnstone.
Kettlewell reckons the reaction to Halliday’s lack of a celebration was over the top and made him LAUGH because the former Hearts and Ibrox star’s commitment has never been called into question.
The manager even admitted to being “perplexed” at the situation as he could hardly wrap his head around the conversation being had.
“For anybody that questions Andy Halliday’s commitment, I have to laugh at it, to be honest,” Kettlewell said.
Stuart Kettlewell has never doubted Andy Halliday’s commitment to Motherwell
“To make that run inside the box, to get on the end of that cross… if Andy Halliday didn’t care about this club and take his job seriously, and wasn’t concerned about Motherwell and what we can achieve, then quite simply he would be standing outside the 18-yard box.
“I understand people will always question celebrations, but he’s 33-years-old and he covered 12-and-a-half kilometres in the game. If you think he’s not committed to get to that number at 33, then I have to laugh at that.
“The last point probably on it is we had a situation here some weeks ago in the quarter-final when Louis Moult scored one of the goals of the season, to my mind. An absolute piece of brilliance against us, an equalising goal.
Andy Halliday did not celebrate against Rangers and received criticism
“From what I’m led to believe, and I don’t look at social media, but there was a lot of respect shown for his reaction, because he appreciated the club that he had done so well for.
“I start to become a wee bit perplexed as to why that narrative starts to change. Andy served Rangers very well, it’s well documented that he’s been a Rangers supporter growing up, and all the rest of it. But he is fully committed to this club. I think all he was doing was showing a little bit of respect towards Rangers.
“I certainly don’t question his commitment towards this club. I haven’t for one second since he has been here, and I didn’t when he was trying to get on the end of that cross.”
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