Jonty Banks

Sun 26 February 2023 15:48, UK

Chris Sutton has mocked Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos for theatrically diving and rolling on the floor when he was brought down in the first half of the Viaplay Cup Final against Celtic.

Michael Beale’s side started off second-best in the early exchanges of the Old Firm encounter on Sunday (26 February), with challenges flying in from both sides as fully expected in a game of such magnitude.

Commentating live on Viaplay TV (3:21pm), BBC pundit Sutton slammed Morelos for throwing himself to the ground under a challenge from Alastair Johnstone, which looked to have minimal contact on it.

The Colombian forward was awarded a free-kick for the challenge, but Sutton, who Ally McCoist joined on commentary, didn’t seem best pleased at the manner in which Morelos hit the floor.

Sutton said: “He actually runs into Alastair Johnston, and let’s see one… oh, he only did one roll there!”

“Yeh, I’ll give you that one, it was more than that Chris,” McCoist quipped in return.

Classic

If ever there was a game for Morelos to play up, it would be the Old Firm derby.

The Colombian simply can’t stay out of the headlines in these huge matches, and once again, he was the centre of controversy early on in the match.

The collision was quite obviously a dive, as the Rangers forward jumped into the Celtic player and theatrically threw himself to the ground, and the referee couldn’t resist giving the decision Rangers’ way. Sutton was straight onto Morelos’ back after the rolling on the ground, and his dig was right on queue.

The Gers started the game a little slowly, but the striker was a lively presence at the top of Beale’s attack. His willingness to press the Celtic backline was impressive, given his previous critics, and he wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line for the club as they search for their first trophy of the year.

In other Rangers news, the club have pulled off a major transfer coup with a deal already signed for a player who was interesting two English giants.