The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Celtic legend urges caution as Lawwell comes under fire
Halliday: No row if request is rejected
Andy Halliday insists there will be no hard feelings if Hibernian snub calls for Alan Stubbs’ team to give Rangers a guard of honour tonight.
Ibrox supporters believe the Leith men should pay tribute to the newlycrowned Ladbrokes Championship winners by applauding them out as they run on to the Easter Road pitch.
But that might be a bitter pill to swallow for the Edinburgh side, especially with their promotion hopes now hanging in the balance.
However, Light Blues midfielder Halliday says there will be no row if the Hibees reject the request.
He said: “That’s up to Hibs. I would like to think [they would] as obviously it’s been part and parcel of football for a long time. But it’s up to them. There will certainly be no hard feelings if they don’t. It’s completely up to them.”
Gers boss Mark Warburton admits he would be touched by such a gesture but will not hold his breath while waiting for Hibs to line up and show their respect for his team.
“If it’s a gesture made by a club then we’re appreciative of it,” said the Englishman.
“If it’s not then there’s no issue. We’ll see what happens. It happens sometimes, other times it doesn’t. So we will wait until Wednesday but it won’t be high on the agenda from our perspective.
“Would we do it if roles were reversed? If that was the case we could discuss it, but it didn’t happen.”
Tonight’s clash will be a dress rehearsal for next month’s William Hill Scottish Cup final after both sides booked their place with dramatic penalty shoot-out victories in the last four.
Having shot down Old Firm rivals Celtic in their semi-final, Gers are flying high and aiming not only for their first major cup triumph since 2011 but also a return to European action four years on from their financial meltdown.
Hibs also got a shot in the arm after overcoming Dundee United but will place just as much importance on their midweek encounter with Rangers as they look to breathe fresh life into their play-off hopes.
Tonight is the first of two games in hand Hibs must win if they are to draw level with second-placed Falkirk and potentially save themselves the burden of two extra games.
Rangers will welcome back wingers Billy King and Michael O’Halloran, who were both cup-tied for the Celtic clash, while Rob Kiernan has been passed fit despite limping off with cramp just before Sunday’s derby moved into extratime.
Meanwhile Stubbs revealed Farid El Alagui is expected to be out for about three weeks after suffering a hamstring injury at Hampden.
Liam Fontaine (thigh), Dylan McGeouch and Dan Carmichael (both groin) remain on the sidelines but James Keatings is back after a cup ban.
Mark Oxley will return in goal in place of cup semi hero Conrad Logan.