Rangers: Dermot Gallagher reacts on Sky Sports to contentious moment in Ross County defeat
Former FIFA official Dermot Gallagher says Rangers were rightly awarded a late penalty in their 3-2 loss at Ross County.
The Gers were awarded a spot-kick in the final minute when the ball struck Brandon Khela’s hand, which James Tavernier duly converted.
Some questioned if referee Matthew MacDermid was right to point to the spot, but Gallagher felt it was the correct call.
“I say this week in, week out in Scotland,” Gallagher said on Sky Sports News [15 April, 11:56am]. “Every single incident like this they penalise, so you can’t knock the referee.
“Every week, the ball strikes an arm like that and it’s a penalty. You ask for consistency and they’re consistent.”
Rangers beaten by Ross County
The referee was indeed correct to point to the penalty spot and Tavernier’s 50th successful spot-kick for Rangers gave hope of a dramatic late comeback.
It was not to be, though, as the Gers suffered a first ever loss to Ross County. It was a day to forget for the Light Blues and one that may just cost them the title.
After the controversy of the week before, with a number of huge decisions in the Old Firm with Celtic, this match was more about the scoreline than refereeing decisions.
The Gers must now pick themselves up for a massive midweek match away in Dundee – or elsewhere – because they simply cannot afford to drop more points.
On the basis of what we have seen up to this point, expect to see at least one contentious decision made in that match, whether it is for or against Rangers.
In other Rangers news, Jeff Stelling took a pop at the Gers as he delivered his verdict on their title aspirations.
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