Jonty Banks

Mon 30 January 2023 7:40, UK

Ewan Murray has described Nicky Clark’s red card for a challenge on Ryan Jack as “quite something” during the 2-0 win for Rangers over St Johnstone on Saturday (28 January).

The Gers midfielder was on the end of a bruising challenge from Perth striker Clark in the first half of the Scottish Premiership encounter, with a red card shown by referee Willie Collum and a VAR check confirming serious foul play.

Although St Johnstone were already 1-0 down at the time following a James Tavernier penalty after 15 minutes, it all but condemned them to defeat, with Glen Kamara sealing the victory with a second-half goal.

The win stretches Michael Beale’s impressive record at Ibrox to nine wins from his opening ten games as boss.

Taking to Twitter (Sunday 29 January) to react to the dangerous tackle from Clark, Scotsman journalist Ewan Murray was quick to display his bewilderment.

He said: “The St Johnstone red card here is….quite something.”

Controversy

The challenge from Clark in the first half was not exactly a clear red card, but Collum felt he had no choice but to give the St Johnstone player his marching orders; however, what followed only added further fuel to the opposition’s supporters’ anger.

Jack, who had been on the receiving end of the challenge, would make an equally rash tackle in the opposition box, to which he was only given a yellow card by Collum.

Even after VAR intervened and sent the referee to the monitor, Collum stuck to his decision and remained insistent the punishment should only be a yellow card.

At the end of the day, Rangers would have probably won this game either way, as it looked really bright from the first whistle, but they were given a helping hand along the way.

Collum’s choices won’t do any damage to conspiracy theories surrounding him, and the all-around fury VAR has been subject to this campaign.

In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart clashed with his fellow BBC pundit over a controversial Light Blues incident he wasn’t happy with.