Ally McCoist exasperated with referee in 2nd half of Rangers win at Hearts
Ally McCoist slammed referee Steven McClean for his decision to ignore a Rangers advantage in the second half at Hearts to book Stephen Humphrys.
The Jam Tarts forward went in late on Light Blues defender James Sands after he’d played the ball out from the back in the 66th-minute.
But as the visitors looked to build a counter-attack against the 10-man home team, with Cammy Devlin sent off in the first half for a stamp on Rabbi Matondo, McClean blew up to bring the play back and show the yellow, infuriating McCoist.
Speaking live on the Sky Sports match commentary (Saturday 1 October, 1.54pm) he said: “That’s a terrible decision as well. How can you possibly bring that back? Dear me.
“[Deal with it] once the ball goes out of play. Definitely catches Sands I think Humphrys there, yes, but look at this…”
Getting increasingly exasperated he added: “Okay it’s a yellow card, but not right now. Play the advantage!”
Decision-making
McClean’s decision had little bearing on the result this time as the Gers ran out comfortable 4-0 winners, but was the sort of thing that regularly brings officiating standards into the spotlight.
As it was on the day it was a decision that he couldn’t fail to get right in the first half that had a lot more say in the final score, as Devlin was shown a straight red for a needless stamp on Matondo on 39 minutes.
The Bears winger was shielding the ball near the touchline when the Hearts man ran over and stamped on his ankle right in front of both benches.
But even if Rangers didn’t hit their best form in the match they were plenty good value for the win, as they were 2-0 up at the time of the sending off through two more Antonio Colak strikes.
Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent added late goals to round off the display and send Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side top at least for a couple of hours.
After a bruising few weeks before the international break it was exactly the sort of drama-free win that the manager and the fans would have been looking for, and gives the side a good platform to go on a run before the World Cup.
In other Rangers news, the club managed to alienate their own fans with a tone-deaf Friday announcement.