SAYS I scored a cracker in 2016 final but it’s a game I’d still prefer to forget
ANDY HALLIDAY
IT was a goal worthy of winning any cup final. Taking the ball on the half-turn on the edge of the Hibs penalty box, Andy Halliday could not have struck the left-footer any sweeter had he tried it 100 times.
Turning to celebrate before it had even hit the back of Conrad Logan’s net, the midfielder was 26 minutes away from becoming the first Rangers player since Nacho Novo in 2009 to score a winner in the Scottish game’s showpiece occasion.
As was quickly to become evident, though, fate had other plans for Halliday that day.
By the time Anthony Stokes and David Gray had intervened to bring the trophy back to Easter Road for the first time since 1902, the Rangers midfielder’s sumptuous strike had been relegated to a mere footnote in history.
Almost two years on from that day at Hampden, Halliday appears to have much in common with the golfer Doug Sanders, who claimed the two-foot putt he missed to win the 1970 Open didn’t hurt much these days because he could now go a full five minutes without thinking about it.
‘It’s a moment in my career that is hard to forget — but you do your best,’ said Halliday.
‘Richard Gough told me before the cup final that he had been a part of a lot of them but he remembered most the ones that he didn’t win.
‘I can certainly understand that. It was a real disappointment and probably the lowest point in my career so far.
‘There are a lot of players here who will remember it — even Kenny Miller who has played in many a final.
‘That was only my second final for Rangers. We managed to beat Peterhead in a (Petrofac Training) cup final that wasn’t as special because it was one we were expected to win.
‘It’s an occasion you relish because you won’t experience it a lot as a player. It was a massive disappointment on the day.’
Since Novo smashed that spectacular winner against Falkirk, Rangers have often had much more to worry about than a place on the winners’ podium come May.
With some justification, though, there is now a palpable belief that such days in the sun can become commonplace again. There remains much work to do before beating Celtic over the course of a season seems realistic but winning the Scottish Cup is now far from the stuff of fantasy. A home draw against Championship side Falkirk is by no means a bye into the semifinal. Yet nor does it hold the same trepidation it once would have.
For the first time in six years, Rangers, as a top-flight club, seem to have the wind back in their sails.
Graeme Murty’s common-sense approach to signings in January was in sharp contrast to the chaos of the Pedro Caixinha days. Eight wins from nine games speaks to the momentum that’s building.
‘We’ve brought in good players and the competition is extremely healthy with players on the bench chomping at the bit,’ added Halliday.
‘It’s hard to break into the team at the moment. We’re the first to admit we have been nowhere near consistent enough in the last 18 months.
‘But, apart from the blip against Hibs (last month), we’ve gathered momentum and scored a lot of goals, although we need to tighten up at the back and get more clean sheets.
‘The St Johnstone game was good in terms of not giving away too many chances, although we did concede a goal.
‘We’re in a good place at the moment but we’ve done nothing yet. We’re still trying to close the gap on Celtic and we want to win silverware with the Scottish Cup.’
This feels like a hugely significant eight days for Murty and his players.
Lose to Falkirk and the season is basically a write-off. Consequently, the manager’s hopes of landing the job on a permanent basis beyond the summer would be brutally damaged.
Win — as they should do — and the Celtic match won’t come quickly enough. It has been some time before anyone in the Ibrox camp thought like that.
‘The next two games could define our season,’ admitted Halliday.
‘Sunday is massive for us. Celtic are the favourites but we’re in a good place and think we have a chance.
‘We’re still six points behind Celtic and we’ve played a game more, so there’s a long way to go but the manner we’ve gone about our business is pleasing.
‘Firstly, though, Falkirk are a hurdle we need to overcome.’
Nothing is ever straightforward, however. With Declan John struggling due to a groin injury and Lee Wallace without a competitive game since the middle of September, Halliday might well find himself reprising the left-back role he was asked to play against St Johnstone in Perth.
‘I wouldn’t have any problem playing left-back in the Old Firm game. It’s a position I’ve played a few times and feel relatively comfortable in,’ he insisted.
‘James Forrest is in a rich vein of form and been excellent for Celtic but it’s a chance I would relish.
‘The first time I played left-back was with Middlesbrough. We had three games that week and I was up against Tom Ince, who was being talked up at Blackpool at the time.
‘After that, it was Crystal Palace and I was taking on Wilfried Zaha. We took a doing that day! Tony Mowbray was our manager at the time.
‘Zaha is an outstanding player and I remember telling my friends: “This boy’s pretty special”. Roy Hodgson was at the game and, to be honest, I think I got him an England call-up. He’s never said thanks!’
Strange as it may sound, of Rangers’ two forthcoming assignments, tomorrow’s is the more significant purely because the Scottish Cup offers the most realistic hope of a trophy.
Not that the opportunity to defeat Celtic for the first time in two years won’t matter, of course.
Indeed, when asked if beating their Old Firm rivals at a possible future meeting in the cup would eclipse a league victory, Halliday finds it hard to split them.
‘I’d never choose,’ he said. ‘We’d certainly try to win the both of them.’
Which is not to say that the visit of a Falkirk side now reborn under manager Paul Hartley is in any way being taken for granted.
‘Falkirk hadn’t been on a great run which was surprising because they were excellent when we were in the Championship,’ said Halliday.
‘They took a few points off us. They are probably in the same sort of mindset that they want to make a real go of the cup but it’s up to us to keep our momentum going and make a statement.
‘We have become a bit more ruthless and we are certainly confident going into these games.’