Rangers penalty v Dundee ‘of the soft variety’ in eyes of Neil McCann
Rangers cruised past Dundee in their Scottish Cup quarter-final at Dens Park to book their place in the semi-finals of the competition.
Connor Goldson and Fashion Sakala scored the first and third goals but it was James Tavernier’s second that got a lot of people talking.
The Light Blues captain surged into the penalty area and went down under the challenge of Ryan Sweeney and referee Steven McLean pointed straight to the spot.
The challenge looked fairly tame however and Premier Sports pundit Neil McCann admitted that it was a soft decision that went the Gers’ way.
“At first when I watched it, I thought it was soft because I don’t think Sweeney can go anywhere,” BBC Sportscene pundit McCann said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“But on reflection, he does put a step towards him. As James Tavernier goes in he works on the outside, and Sweeney steps across him. He catches him full chest.
“It is of the soft variety, I can see why Steven McLean have given it so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. He (Sweeney) just comes across but he should just match the run.”
Fortunate
The majority of Rangers supporters may well agree with McCann that they were more than a touch lucky to get the spot-kick with the game finely poised at 1-0.
Tavernier duly slammed the ball into the top corner to give the Light Blues a cushion after 25 minutes which was no less than they deserved.
van Bronckhorst’s side completely dominated the game from the first minute to the last to comprehensively dump Dundee out of the competition.
Whether you agree or disagree with the penalty decision, no one can argue that the Gers had earned their place in the semi-finals where they could face Hibernian or Hearts as well as either Celtic or Dundee United who play tomorrow.
There’s no time to celebrate reaching the final four though as they need to ready themselves for a crucial trip to Serbia to try and hold on to their 3-0 lead against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday.
In other Rangers news, Tavernier led the way in our player ratings with no player getting less than a 5/10.