Rangers v Dundee: Hibs told to ‘keep mouth shut’ after SPFL complaint over Dens Park chaos
Hibs “should just keep mouth shut” instead of getting involved in the chaos of Rangers and Dundee again being postponed, according to Tam McManus.
The ex-Easter Road striker reacted via Twitter on 10 April after a report from Edinburgh News the same evening that his former side had made a “robust” complaint to the SPFL, arguing that the Dark Blues now stand to gain a sporting advantage from the “embarrassment” of a second call-off at Dens Park.
The Hibees, who trail sixth-placed Dundee by a point in the race to land in the top half post-split, are unhappy that their rivals will have the benefit of knowing exactly what they need when they come to play their twice-rearranged game against the Gers next Wednesday (17 April).
But McManus has brushed off the concerns on the basis that Philippe Clement’s side will clearly have no interest in going easy when they are in the midst of a title race with Celtic.
He wrote: “My thoughts are the club should just keep mouth shut and concentrate on beating Motherwell.
“If Dundee only need a point next Wednesday for Top 6 them and Rangers are hardly going to play out a draw!”
Hibernian complaint falls flat as Rangers battle Celtic?
Hibs are right that the situation that has seen Don Robertson twice unable to let play go ahead at Dens Park is embarrassing, but McManus’ point is just as valid when it comes to their sporting advantage concerns.
On that front it is surely Rangers who have the right to be more annoyed if anyone is, and the statement released on their website showed they are certainly that.
In the tightest race for the Scottish Premiership title for years the inability to get the Dundee game played has forced Rangers to play the role of chaser rather than leader, with a single point deficit to Brendan Rodgers’ side and the game in hand.
The dramatic 3-3 Old Firm draw failed to separate the two sides, meaning the unplayed fixture is the key wildcard still.
There are various arguments as to whether it is better to be ahead or chasing at this stage, or whether points on the board are worth more than games in hand, and different players or coaches may well feel differently in that respect.
But whatever the actual effects might be it has certainly become a factor in that race, and should a further issue see the game pushed back again it will only become more so, not least since the perception of advantages or disadvantages are already a feature of the post-split fixture list.
Clubs have a right to be unhappy that the league calendar continues to be disrupted by the Dens Park problems, and it does raise the prospect of an issue for Dundee’s rivals if they had to face a team with nothing to play for.
But Rangers don’t fit that description under Clement so their concerns in this instance are perhaps unnecessary.
In other Rangers news, the manager could look to leave Ibrox if these issues continue claims Hugh Keevins.
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