BBC Sportscene pundit backs David Martindale over Rangers opener v Livingston
Neil McCann said he feels for David Martindale because he agrees with the Livingston manager over the Rangers opener vs Livingston.
The BBC pundit reacted live on BBC Sportscene on 3 February after Connor Goldson’s challenge in the build-up to Fabio Silva’s opener in the 3-0 win survived a VAR check to stand, with the Livi boss baffled as to how.
The Gers defender appeared to make contact with his boot in the air at a corner as he jumped against David Carson, with the ball falling to the Wolves loanee to net his first for the club.
Martindale had told BBC Sport after the final whistle: “I think Goldson comes flying in with high feet and he catches David Carson on his thigh…
“He’s not meant to catch our player, he’s just tried to get a contact on the ball, but we were really surprised, if I’m honest, really surprised that the goal stood.”
McCann said (8.03pm): “They did get a bit of fortune I feel, and I actually feel for Davie Martindale because I agree with him…
“I think [John Beaton] is staring right at that. Connor Goldson is off his feet and he studs Davie Carson, he’s a brave a boy, he puts his head in there but you can see he’s shrinking because he can see a big boot coming towards his head.
“He doesn’t get the desired clearance. It drops to Fabio Silva and it ends up taking a little nick on its way into the net. But I think it’s impeded him. You can see David showing his thigh, he’s got a score down his thigh, but it could have been his face.”
“I don’t understand why [Beaton] wasn’t asked to go and have a look at that by the VAR team, but they’ve just decided it’s not a clear and obvious error and the goal should stand.”
Martindale backed by McCann over Goldson role in Silva goal for Rangers
Goldson was lucky with that one as there were two contacts with his boot that did seem to impede Carson, so the fact that the VAR checked it and decided not to recommend a review was a surprise.
The Light Blues dominated possession on a day were Livi offered very little threat in the opposite direction, but it took the benefit of that decision to see the deadlock broken late in the first half.
The presumption would be that Philippe Clement’s side would have found a way through eventually either way, with Rabbi Matondo’s deflected second coming soon after and Rangers players threatening throughout the match, but it is impossible to know for sure so it was fortunate.
It is little surprise that Martindale felt aggrieved but it was a very positive development for Silva as it allowed him to cap an encouraging performance with a goal.
With no striker arriving at Ibrox in the January window there is all the more pressure on the young Portuguese forward, but he led the line well in place of Cyriel Dessers to suggest that he can stand in as a number nine.
As Celtic dropped points at Aberdeen in the early kick off the win at Ibrox took Rangers to within three points of the top with a game in hand, and keeps the pressure on coming out of the transfer market.
In other Rangers news, a player set to join the Light Blues has apologised over a transfer window “incident”.
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