By George Overhill

19th Mar, 2023 | 8:10am

Rangers ace Todd Cantwell destroyed by BBC Sportscene pundit who insists he has no Motherwell bias

Richard Foster branded Todd Cantwell an “absolute embarrassment” for Rangers at Motherwell but insisted he wasn’t being biased to his new team.

The former Ibrox defender was appointed head of coaching at Fir Park on 1 March but he said that had nothing to do with his furious assessment of Cantwell’s reaction, as Nick Walsh sent off Callum Slattery in the 4-2 Gers win.

The Well midfielder was handed a second yellow for a hand towards the Bears man’s face, but the exaggerated fall to the ground from the January arrival infuriated Foster.

Speaking live on BBC Sportscene on Saturday night (18 March, 7.49pm) Foster said: “This one is an absolute embarrassment from Cantwell, his reaction is an absolute embarrassment.

“Nick Walsh has every right to believe that he’s been elbowed really hard in the face. I don’t think Tyson Fury would knock him down as quickly as that. He throws his hands to his face and then he throws his whole body back the way.”

Steven Thompson pointed out it was a particular “bugbear” of Foster’s who agreed and continued: “Players need to take responsibility because if that is the other way round everyone on the Rangers team complains. He’s done the referee there.

“[Slattery] puts his arm out, it rides up the arm of Cantwell, up his shoulder, and touches his neck. And he goes down as if he’s had a bat to the head.

“Embarrassing, embarrassing reaction for me, and that’s taking my Motherwell bias out of this.”

Over the top

Perhaps Walsh would have deemed it a yellow either way, but it was certainly on the harsher side, and Cantwell’s reaction suggested far worse contact.

On a day where he was central to the improved performance of Michael Beale’s side in the second half, and scored his first goal for the club, it was a sequence that didn’t shower him in glory.

Slattery didn’t need to have his hand so far up in the face of his opposite number but probably feels pretty unlucky to have been given his marching orders.

And yet we see time and time the reason why players continue to play-act or embellish what has actually happened, because if they stay on their feet or react naturally officials so often ignore what is otherwise a foul.

That doesn’t excuse Cantwell going down holding his face in this instance but it explains why players react in a way that doesn’t tie up to the damage they may or may not have received.

It was a rough break for Slattery this time, but having finally gone ahead and given themselves a cushion with Malik Tillman’s excellent fourth, it likely didn’t make a difference to the result.

In other Rangers news, Michael Beale has admitted he is “delighted” as it seems one player whose contract is soon up will be remaining at the club.