‘It was a horrible, horrible challenge’ ‘It made me cringe when I watched it’ ‘it was a dangerous tackle’ The two faces of Barry Ferguson

Over the last 24 hours Barry Ferguson has been defending his Alloa players despite telling them to get in the faces of Celtic players and bite a few ankles. 

Ange Postecoglou is today counting the cost of that policy supported by Don Robertson’s determination to let Saturday’s cup tie flow by ignoring the Laws of the Game. 

Robertson has plenty of previous, Kieran Tierney and Jeremie Frimpong are previous victims of his approach to the Laws, allowing opponents to go straight through onto the knees, ankles and legs of Celtic players. 

At the start of December David Turnbull was the victim of a brutal challenge from Calum Butcher with the Dundee United midfielder booked by Robertson. 

Putting on his media hat Ferguson was sickened by the incident, sharing his views on Go Radio. Back in the dressing room on Saturday Fergie told his players to get in their faces and snap at ankles. 

 

 50 seconds 

I knew as soon as that tackle happened it was a dangerous tackle. It was a horrible, horrible challenge and David Turnbull is a lucky boy to come out it without an injury. That could have been a serious one. 

If his studs are stuck in the turf David Turnbull has a serious injury, it is a terrible challenge. 

There is no doubt that (Calum) Butcher is a competitive player, that is part of his game, but you can go over the top and if I’m being honest with you that is over the top, there’s no doubt about it. 

As you said, he is just back from a two game suspension. It made me cringe when I watched it and then when it was actually slowed down in was even worse. 

Wonder what Crawford Allan will say about this. pic.twitter.com/3HXII11bZC

— The Ayrshire Separatist. (@DanielJMath1) December 5, 2021