Paper.. Kearney: I undestand why Jack snubbed me after being taken off
Buddies boss Oran Kearney insists he has no problem with Jack Baird after the defender reacted angrily to being substituted on Wedensday night.
Baird was hooked just 22 minutes into the game against Motherwell as Kearney looked to make a tactical adjustment by bringing on Kyle McAllister.
In response, Baird made no attempt to hide his frustration, as he stormed to the dugout while refusing to acknowledge his manager’s attempted handshake.
However, Kearney was relaxed about the incident at full-time, insisting Baird’s reaction was absolutely normal.
He said: “I’m not disappointed with Jack’s reaction at all. Football’s an emotional game and Jack, like anybody else, is an emotional player.
“I expect him to be fully understanding coming off the pitch at that point in time with everything else that goes with it.
“It’s an absolutely normal human reaction.
“I’ll have a chat with him about it. I’m not saying he’ll be delighted with it but I’m sure he’ll understand because it was nothing to do with his performance.
“It was purely that we had to change tactics.
“We’re all big boys, I don’t expect him to not say he understands everything that goes with it.”
McAllister’s introduction almost prompted an immediate reaction from the team as Kearney switched from 5- 3- 2 to a 4- 4- 2 formation.
Anders Dreyer should have slotted home when through on goal, before McAllister himself scooped the ball over the bar from close range.