Halliday holds no grudge against Fyvie

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

Halliday was wrongly sent off during the top-of-the-table clash at Ibrox when Fyvie rolled away from a flash point with the Gers anchorman clutching his face.

The action conned referee Bobby Madden into thinking he had been the victim of a head-butt and he immediately flashed red.

Halliday, though, was cleared on appeal while Fyvie accepted a two-match ban for feigning an injury in order to get an opponent dismissed.

The Rangers midfielder blew a sigh of relief when Mark Warbuton's side clung on with 10-men for a 4-2 win which sent them three points clear at the top of the Championship.

And now he says he is happy to move on without any hard feelings directed Fyvie's way.

"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 any more," said the 24-year-old.

"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 had scored.

"It was a relief more than anything because I thought the sending off was unjustified. Thankfully 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 made his name with former sides Livingston - who he faces again at Ibrox on Saturday - Middlesbrough and Bradford as a forward-thinking winger.

But after returning to Rangers in the summer, his main priority has been shutting down opposition attacks after Warburton converted him into a holding midfielder.

However, the lifelong Gers supporter - who was this week rewarded for his encouraging start to the season with a new four-and-a-half-year deal - admits he can now see himself playing out his Ibrox stint in front of the back four.

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.

"If you had asked me at the start of the season are you a defensive midfielder, I'd have said no. But if the manager said he'd like me to play there for the next four-and-a-half years I'd have no qualms about it."

Halliday, though, is likely to face a battle next season for his place in the team.

Gers have already landed attacking midfielder Josh Windass and midfield battler Matt Crooks from Accrington on pre-contracts and the latter will already have his eye on Halliday's shirt.

But the man currently in possession said: "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."