Lee Johnson: Rangers red card for Alfredo Morelos was harsh
Hibernian manager Lee Johnson feels that Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos’ was unfortunate to receive a red card as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men were held to a 2-2 draw at Easter Road.
The Colombian was shown a straight red card in the 75th-minute Rangers clash with Johnson’s side for an alleged elbow.
However, even Johnson wasn’t convinced referee Willy Collum was right to give the 25-year-old striker his marching orders.
As quoted by the PLZ Football Show (21 August), Johnson said: “I think he has a go on the second one after having a feel initially.
“I don’t think it’s proper ‘I’m going to break your nose with my elbow’ if you know what I mean?
“At my height, you get a lot of elbows and you never quite know if it’s a height thing or whether he’s meant it, only he knows if he’s actually meant it or not.”
Gave him the chance
It was a soft red card for Morelos, but he cannot give a referee the opportunity to send him off.
He has a reputation for lashing out and being reckless at times and officials are fully aware of what he is capable of.
Opposition players are also aware of his antics and clearly looking to get the Colombian sent off at every opportunity.
He was unfortunate to be given his marching orders, but ultimately, he has to be more streetwise in the future.
His dismissal made it an almost impossible task for Rangers to take all three points back to Ibrox after also losing John Lundstram to a straight red card earlier in the match.
Hibernian’s late equaliser can be put largely down to Morelos’ lack of game intelligence and it’s something he has to improve on this season.
If VAR had been present then it could well have been a different story for the 25-year-old but he now has to stop putting himself in the limelight on such a consistent basis.
The lack of discipline from the Gers means it was a huge two points dropped at Easter Road.
In other Rangers news, this Ibrox star has been dubbed as a realistic late summer signing for Aston Villa.