David Martindale left baffled by contentious decision in Rangers win over Livingston
Rangers’ opening goal against Livingston in their Scottish League Cup victory should not have stood, according to David Martindale.
Speaking post-match to BBC Sportscene (27 September), the Livingston boss suggested goalscorer Abdallah Sima clearly pushed defender Jamie Brandon in the build-up to the opener.
Martindale was left “disappointed” by the lack of a VAR check, with his side going on to exit the competition in a 4-0 Ibrox defeat.
Martindale said, as quoted by Glasgow World: “I’ll be honest, I think the first goal’s a foul. I’ve watched it back myself and it’s clear hands-on – it’s not a huge push but there’s a push in the player’s back.
”The player’s running and he’s a wee bit off balance with the momentum and if you get a push, you’re going to fall. For the life of me, I don’t know how we haven’t got a foul. The first goal hurts us, it spooks us.
“I’m disappointed because I thought there’d be a VAR check because it’s in the phase of play that led to a goal. My understanding is it doesn’t need to be clear and obvious. I thought that would be overturned but it didn’t.”
Contentious
Livingston players all turned their eyes to referee Willie Collum as Sima curled his effort past an outstretched Shamal George in the away net. Their protests were significant, but the referee remained adamant that the Brighton loanee’s challenge on Brandon was fair.
In the end, it most likely would not have mattered, as Michael Beale’s side went on to thump Martindale’s side 4-0, courtesy of a Sima brace, a Ridvan Yilmaz wondergoal and a late Ryan Jack arrow into the bottom corner.
Per OneFootball, the visiting Lions offered very little offensively. Rangers outshot them with 15 shots to Livingston’s three, while the Gers dominated with 69% possession in the Ibrox showdown.
However, Martindale suggests that the early and contentious goal spooked his men, so perhaps if the game remained level for a longer period of time, the Lions could have proved more aggressive opponents.
While Livingston fans will be frustrated by the result, the balance of the game always suggested a Rangers victory. A big performance was needed from the Gers as defeat could have spelt the end of Beale’s Ibrox tenure, but he lives to fight for another match.
In other Rangers news, Todd Cantwell has shared a two-word message as an injury is admission made.