Neil Lennon and Peter Martin defend Ross McCausland over Rangers controversy amid disbelief at Livingston clash
Neil Lennon and Peter Martin both absolved Ross McCausland of blame for the controversial first Rangers penalty at Livingston while pointing the finger of blame at the VAR.
The pair spoke on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show on 13 November to question how the video assistant had allowed the first-half Steven McLean decision to stand the day earlier in the 2-0 Gers win.
Tam McManus was also in disbelief that the award wasn’t overturned, although the former Hibs striker was far more blunt in claiming the young Rangers winger had “dived”.
First McManus said (15m 30s): “It’s not a penalty Peter, he’s dived. He’s gone down before the goalkeeper, I don’t think he even clips him… I was very, very surprised that was given after looking at it again… it’s nowhere near a penalty kick.”
Martin countered: “I’ve got no problem with McCausland because at the end of the day… professional footballers say to me time and time again, ‘Go down’. They’re attitude is, your attitude [Lennon’s], Tam’s, [Alan] Roughie’s, ‘If I can win an advantage for my team I will, it’s down to the referee to make the decision’.
“My problem with it though Neil is how on earth did somebody in VAR look at that and say that’s a penalty?”
Lennon replied: “I totally agree with you… it was clear to me that it wasn’t a penalty. When you slow it down it looks even worse, even more not a penalty…
“But you’re right, it’s not down to McCausland. What should have happened is if you had a strong referee and a strong VAR panel – yellow card, free kick for Livi.”
Fallout
This weekend caused more VAR controversies than most and the penalty award in West Lothian is one of the most contentious.
McCausland got the benefit of a charitable decision for the spot kick, although James Tavernier missed it anyway, but saw his fortunes evened out by an equally debatable call to disallow his first goal for the club for a perceived foul by Abdallah Sima.
As Lennon went on to say, it is not VAR technology itself that is the issue in these instances, but the way officials are using it appears to be getting more obtuse rather than better.
There will be many who do blame McCausland for his role in the penalty, but it does seem to be the officials who are more the subject of ire than the Rangers attacker.
It was an eventful day for the Northern Irishman in his first start for the Light Blues, even if neither of his most notable contributions somehow didn’t end in goals.
Philippe Clement is sure to be hoping the ongoing contract talks between the 20-year-old and the club go the right way or his window to get the best out of the youngster might not last long.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart has claimed a regular Light Blues starter should be dropped as an ex-Celtic man moots a “huge” alternative.