Fabio Silva dubbed ‘absolutely stupid’ as BBC pundit rages at Rangers incident v Kilmarnock
Rangers winger Fabio Silva was blasted by Stuart McCall on BBC Radio Scotland, after committing an “absolutely stupid” foul against Kilmarnock in their game on Sunday (5 May).
Silva shoved Kilmarnock midfielder Luke Polworth to the ground with Rangers 1-0 down, giving the visitors a reprieve which both McCall and Steven Thompson slammed from the commentary box.
The 26th-minute foul from Silva came after an own goal and missed penalty apiece from Gers captain James Tavernier, but the on-loan Wolves winger did pop up to equalise in first-half stoppage time and set the hosts on the path to a 4-1 victory.
On co-commentary alongside McCall for BBC Radio Scotland, (1:27pm, 5 May) Thompson exclaimed: “Stupid foul!
“He’s down in the corner, he’s going nowhere, and it’s just given Kilmarnock breathing space when the pressure was on.”
McCall chimed in with full agreement: “As you said, what a stupid free-kick to give away by Silva. Absolutely stupid.”
Silva recovers from first-half frustration to inspire Rangers victory
Rangers winger Silva has been through the wringer at times during his half-season loan spell at Ibrox, and after his needless foul on Polworth gave 10-man Kilmarnock a cheap free-kick, it looked like being another one of those days for the Portuguese.
Just minutes earlier, Silva was fouled by Joe Wright in the Killie box, a challenge which saw the defender receive his marching orders. Tavernier stepped up from 12 yards, but his spot-kick was saved by Will Dennis.
However, after a first half which had seen an own goal, a red card and a saved penalty for Kilmarnock, Silva scored the equaliser for Rangers in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
With their resistance finally broken right at the end of the first period, Killie had no answer to Philippe Clement’s side in the second, with Ben Davies, Tom Lawrence and John Souttar all on the scoresheet to record a comfortable 4-1 victory.
It’s a win which tees up an Old Firm derby for the ages next weekend (11 May), and with Rangers back in Premiership title contention, Silva will be hoping he can help to inspire the Gers to another victory after putting in a statement performance at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have demanded a rival club give them thousands of pounds.
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