Daniel Lewis

Sat 9 December 2023 19:40, UK

Michael Stewart and Tom English were in agreement that Rangers were fortunate to be awarded a penalty in their 3-1 win over Dundee.

Aaron Donnelly was adjudged to have pulled Abdallah Sima’s shirt in the box and referee Kevin Clancy pointed to the spot in the 26th minute.

James Tavernier converted the spot-kick, which came at a pivotal point in the game at Ibrox as the scores were locked at 1-1.

Discussing the penalty incident on BBC Radio Scotland, Stewart said: “For me, when you start analysing it the way clearly VAR does, then I’m not surprised it’s been given.

“But my gut reaction is that it’s a soft penalty. When you look at the stills when Donnelly’s down on his knees and Sima’s jumping up in the air, it looks like he’s pulling him down out of the air and getting him out the way for the header.

“But when you watch it in real time, it’s a very, very soft penalty kick.”

BBC reporter English added: “It’s never a penalty.”

Hectic half

While it is understandable many have questioned why a penalty was awarded, Donnelly did ultimately have his hands on Sima’s shirt.

Had it been the other way around, Rangers fans would no doubt have taken the same view – it is one of those things.

Tavernier made no mistake from 12 yards and the Gers did not look back from that point, having fallen behind to an early Amadou Bakayoko goal.

Cyriel Dessers and Sima were on the scoresheet either side of Tavernier’s latest pen in a first half that ended with Jose Cifuentes being sent off.

The referee and his assistants were certainly kept on their toes in that lively opening 45 minutes, which also saw a goal ruled out.

Even if a penalty had not been awarded for the challenge on Sima, you would have fancied Rangers’ chances of going on to win the game.

Full credit to Philippe Clement’s men for getting the job done in a relatively stress-free manner given the circumstances – helping hand or not.

In other Rangers news, Clement has made a transfer admission ahead of the January window.