Andy Halliday has lifted the lid on his ding-dong battle with Celtic captain Scott Brown during last month's Scottish Cup final.

The Hearts midfielder and Hoops skipper clashed and shared fiery words during the 3-3 draw at Hampden on December 20. But Halliday insists it was nothing more than typical matchday chat with both trying to get the better of the other.

Brown also came together with another Jambos star, Steven Naismith, but Halliday reckons all is fair during a match as big as the one they contested.

Asked by Open Goal host Si Ferry what the worst of the arguments sounded like, the former Rangers ace said: "It was nothing, genuinely. I say this all the time, any ding-dong you have with Scott Brown or anyone during a game is brilliant. 

"Stuff after the game I don't agree with with but anything that happens on the pitch, aye. He's obviously a leader and I think when he does that he gets the best out of him. And to be honest I'm probably a bit similar.

"That's why when you say there's no fans it's hard to build that battle up. You watch games now and teams are struggling with no fans but that game looked like a cup final. Both teams were proper going for it and all stuff like that is good."