Rangers manager Michael Beale has revealed he was protecting Malik Tillman when he ordered his teammates to allow Partick Thistle to score at Ibrox.
The Gers ran out eventual 3-2 winners in an enthralling Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox but not before Scott Tiffoney got the run of Govan to tap in an equaliser after Malik Tillman had put Rangers 2-1 up.
Bayern loanee Tillman completed a Rangers comeback with around 20 minutes to play when he pounced on a slack touch from Partick Thistle defender Kevin Holt to dribble around the keeper and finish cooly.
This sparked wild protestations from the Partick Thistle team, who were planning to kick the ball back to Rangers after the Ibrox side had kicked it out of play.
After a moment, Michael Beale would then order his side to let Partick Thistle score in an extraordinary turn of events which came after a controversial Kevin Holt penalty had given the Jags a first-half lead.
Antonio Colak – the striker having been on the end of that incredible handball penalty decision – would equalise five minutes into the second period by getting on the end of a Nicolas Raskin cross.
USA loanee James Sands would nod in a winner with five minutes to go to save any potential embarrassment on the side of Michael Beale and his team.
And this was after James Tavernier missed a second half penalty.
Rangers fans – already incensed that an apparent stamp on Malik Tillman had gone unnoticed before the goal – booed the decision to let Scott Tiffoney score and there’s a feeling that not another side in Scottish football would’ve returned the favour for us.
Michael Beale explains Malik Tillman Partick Thistle moment
Speaking after the game, Michael Beale claimed that whilst the decision was about upholding Rangers’ standards, the Ibrox manager also didn’t want the Partick Thistle goal hanging over Malik Tillman in the future.
“If you watch the whole thing back, obviously I am watching it,” said Michael Beale [Rangers Review].
“Malik gets injured and we play the ball out, Malik is down on the floor and he doesn’t see that we have played the ball out.
“So by the time Malik gets up two or three minutes later because it took time, or however long it took, he sees they have a throw-in and he puts his hand up to the referee as if to say how have they got a throw and then he presses as he been taught.
He is completely unaware of the situation, of what has happened. I had to speak to my bench to make sure that is what they saw as well.
“Malik came over and I spoke to him and he confirmed it. So it was the right thing to do. I will tell you why it was the right thing to do.
“Malik Tillman is a fantastic young player and I don’t want that hanging around his head.
“He has never cheated anyone in his life and as a football club we have high standards. We don’t need to do that to beat Partick Thistle at home.
“It was complete misunderstanding and not in fitting with the way the game was played and played afterwards. The players all managed to play the game well.
“If you watch the whole scenario back it was a misunderstanding, I am glad that we are through and glad we are not talking about that as the reason we are though.”
When Malik Tillman isn’t scoring controversial goals against Partick Thistle, the USA international is also being tipped for the very top with Bayern Munich.
