VAR TO THE RESCUE

Referee Kevin Clancy initially booked Ryan Kent for diving after the Rangers winger went to ground in the St Mirren box following a Marcus Fraser challenge with 10 minutes remaining in the cinch Premiership match at the SMiSA Stadium this afternoon.  

But after being advised by his VAR colleagues to look back at the incident and watching a replay on the pitchside monitor, Clancy reversed his decision and awarded a spot kick.

James Tavernier stepped forward and beat Trevor Carson from 12 yards to level the match - and his strike ultimately slavaged a point for the lacklustre visitors.

The new technology has won few admirers in Scottish football since being introduced last month and conspiracy theories will abound after this latest ruling.    

However, Fraser certainly made contact with his opponent, who was travelling at speed, and the match official was duty bound to give a penalty.

It was a perfect example of VAR working well.

 

KING BLOW

The last thing that Giovanni van Bronckhorst needed today was his only fit specialist centre half suffering an injury – he was already missing Ben Davies, Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and John Souttar.

However, Leon King, who once again partnered midfielder James Sands in the heart of the Rangers rearguard, had to be stretchered off after suffering head knock in the second-half with his team trailing 1-0.  

John Lundstram had to drop back and he was replaced in midfield by Ryan Jack.

Van Bronckhorst will be hoping the King injury is not too bad and he can get a few defenders back when club football resumes following the World Cup. 

 

IDLE IDOL

Opportunity knocked for Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos this afternoon with Antonio Colak being out injured.

The Colombian striker had the chance to stake a claim for a regular start by producing the sort of performance which has made him a darling of the Ibrox club’s fans.  

He failed to take it. He might not have received adequate service from his team mates in the encounter with St Mirren. However, he did nothing with the ball when he did get it.

Morelos picked up a needless booking from referee Kevin Clancy for a shove on Ethan Arhahon at the start of the second-half. That summed up his display.  

The forward is a temperamental character who is often guilty of ill-discipline and prone to fits of petulance. But his side needed far better from him in the predicament they are in. He must rediscover his spark after the Qatar 2022 finals. 

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