Lee McCulloch moved to defend Umar Sadiq after his performance for Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup. The 21-year-old was singled out for criticism after a below-par showing against Aberdeen in Sunday’s defeat – most notably earning himself a booking for simulation when he could have scored into an empty net after rounding the goalkeeper.
After the game, manager Steven Gerrard tried not to blame the striker for Rangers losing against the Dons, but he did speak out about the simulation and told Sadiq to stay on his feet in the future. McCulloch, however, believes everybody should “give the lad a break” and hopes his League Cup performance won’t stop him featuring again this season.