Barry Ferguson: Rangers were lucky to get ‘very, very soft’ penalty at Dundee
Rangers were lucky to be awarded another penalty in the Scottish Cup win at Dundee as it was “very, very soft”, according to Barry Ferguson.
James Tavernier went down after contact with Ryan Sweeney and referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot despite protests from the home side, with the Gers captain converting it himself to put his side 2-0 up in the eventual 3-0 victory.
The Dee man didn’t get the ball but didn’t make an obvious move to impede the Light Blues full-back so the decision could have gone either way.
Speaking on Go Radio, via the Daily Record the ex-Ibrox captain said: “The Dundee player does move towards Tavernier, but if I’m being brutally honest it was a very, very soft penalty.
“But you’ve got to go up and put it in the back of the pokey. What a penalty again, similar to what he did against Red Star on Thursday night.
“But now he’s showing he’s a proper leader and his performances have been top class.”
Useful streak
The Bears have now been awarded a penalty in their last four games outside of league action.
It has certainly come in handy in the Europa League where a clear spot kick was awarded in both legs against Dortmund, before a more iffy one in the first meeting with Red Star Belgrade.
The players keep getting themselves in positions to give the referee a decision to make, and as Ferguson says, captain Tavernier continues to prove he is an expert taker.
Whether the penalty at Dundee would have been awarded had it been at the other end and not in front of the Gers support is one to consider.
The team have certainly had the luck with them on a few decisions in recent matches, but none have been completely outrageous.
Smaller teams the world over do probably have cause for complaint, that the edge in such situations tends to go to the big sides.
But Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his squad will take goals however they come as they continue to advance on three fronts.
In other Rangers news, Charlie Nicholas is certain one Gers star is leaving this summer.