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Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

What the Rangers pundits said on 3 key Partick Thistle flashpoints as 'ridiculous' Colak handball call sparks fury

Neil McCann believes Malik Tillman "didn't have a clue" after the Rangers playmaker was at the heart of controversy during their Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle. And he reckons the decision to award Partick Thistle a penalty for handball in the first half was "ridiculous."

Rangers handed Nicolas Raskin a first start and Ianis Hagi continued his recovery from a long-term injury with 45 minutes game time. But it wasn't straight forward for the Scottish Premiership side who came from behind to win 3-2. James Sands strike six minutes from time ensured Michael Beale's men go into the hat for the quarter-finals after an enthralling match at Ibrox which saw five goals, two penalty awards, and a sensational moment where Scott Tiffoney was allowed to score following Tillman's unsporting like moment which put Rangers 2-1 to the good.

And McCann, Alan Hutton, Marvin Bartley and Kenny Miller also discussed the games key incidents in their post match analysis, with the quartet making their disbelief clear at what occurred during the 90 minutes in Govan.

Here's what the pundits said on the three key talking points from the match.

Neil McCann

On the penalty for the opening goal, McCann said on Sportscene it was "never a penalty in his life." Less so for the Rangers equaliser though as the former Ibrox winger saw why that was given. He said: "No doubt it hits (Colak's) arm but every time I see it I shake my head. It's never in its life a penalty kick. I don't care what the law is, Colak is on the way down, he's not even facing that direction."

And on the second he added: "I think he's given it on the collision, but it's gone to VAR and they've picked up on the pull that brought Tillman down just inside. But fair play to young Sneddon - he takes a big gamble and it pays off."

McCann was also quick to jump to Malik Tillman's defence as he added: "There's one guy in the picture here who doesn't know what's going on and it's Tillman who's on the floor. He's been stood on.

"He doesn't know it's been knocked out of play. He doesn't have a clue, he's been flattened and he's in a bit of pain. (When it restarts) he's hit Holt like a truck and his feet and composure are marvellous. Everybody's furious, but it's clear Tillman didn't have a clue."

Alan Hutton

Addressing the Partick Thistle penalty at half-time, Hutton was initially reluctant to go in strong. He said: "We're talking about it, it's such a difficult one. For me, it's not a penalty. Colak has no time to react. He is using his arm for leverage, then he's turning his body."

But after Marvin Bartley pointed out he'd been too "nice," Hutton added: "It's natural. You see him when he's jumping, he's using his arms for leverage, then he's turning his body. That's what happens, it's in a natural position. There's nowhere else he can put his arm, so for me, it's not a penalty.

Kenny Miller

Former Ibrox striker Miller had plenty of sympathy for Tillman although admitted the bizarre situation of an opposition team being allowed to score uncontested was a first for him. He said: "I've never seen that type of thing live or been involved in it. There were about four Partick Thistle players standing around the centre circle looking to take that ball because they knew a free goal was coming.

"He (Allan McGregor) is never going to want to concede any types of goals and the fact that he still wasn't wanting to allow it to happen then eventually like sense prevails and he lets Scott Tiffoney go past him with a little bit of dance. It was the right thing, it was absolutely the right thing when you see it and ultimately you don't want to win a game like that, or lose. It could've cost Rangers you just never know."

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