Derek McInnes reacts to Ryan Kent sending off for Rangers at Aberdeen
Derek McInnes denounced referee Kevin Clancy for sending of Ryan Kent in the 1-1 draw between Aberdeen and Rangers last night, saying he got it “wrong”.
The Gers winger received two second-half bookings that the ex-Pittodrie boss disagreed with, saying live on the Sky Sports broadcast after the game: “I don’t think either of Ryan Kent’s yellow cards are yellow cards. There’s nothing in that.
“The only thing about Kent is I thought there’d have been a wee bit more protesting his innocence.
“For that to be deemed two yellow cards and a red card is really disappointing. I think he’s got it wrong, Clancy.”
Tough evening
Kent’s sending off was part of a disappointing evening for the Light Blues who saw themselves pegged back and eventually lucky to hold on for the draw as they dropped league points for the first time under manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The league-leaders were looking to restore the 10-point gap at the top of the table as they headed into the closing stages 1-0 up through Ianis Hagi’s first-half strike.
But minutes after Lewis Ferguson drew the Dons level from the penalty spot after Alfredo Morelos was penalised for handball, Kent received the first of two bookings for an altercation with Jonny Hayes.
A second quickly followed after a late challenge on Scott Brown, although contact looked minimal.
With the home side in the ascendency and being roared on by the crowd the Englishman fell foul of two marginal decisions that may have gone the other way in a different atmosphere.
Former-Celtic captain Brown knows well enough how to take advantage of a situation, and did just that by making the most of the challenge before clapping and waving the former-Liverpool youth player off the pitch.
The sight of their former Old Firm rival enjoying Gers’ misfortune as the three points slipped away will have frustrated Ibrox fans hugely, and the referee not giving the visitors any benefit of the doubt will have made it all the worse.
In other Rangers news, this former player is blown away by his ex-teammates’ gestures.