Chris Sutton and Kenny Miller clash over ‘Dangerous’ incident in Rangers loss v Celtic as Sky Sports footage emerges
Chris Sutton and Kenny Miller clashed live on Sky Sports after John Lundstram was given a straight red card during Celtic’s 2-1 win over Rangers.
The game was settled in a wild ten minute spell at the end of the first-half when Matt O’Riley opened the scoring before Lundstram scored an own goal two minutes later, only for Cyriel Dessers to pull one back 90 seconds after that.
But Lundstram was then sent off for a lunge on Hoops defender Alistair Johnston in stoppage time of the first half, which led to a furious exchange between the two commentators (Sky Sports, 11 May, 13:15).
“Unfortunately you just can’t go into tackles like that these days,” Miller said. “Yes he’s played the ball, he’s full force, he’s sliding in, he definitely gets a bit of Alistair Johnson as well. Yeah, clear booking. Doesn’t get any of the ball actually when you see it on second viewing.”
Sutton then questioned the initial decision and claimed it should got to VAR, which it did.
“I’ll tell you what, I wonder if they’re checking this for a straight red for Lundstram,” Sutton replied. “He doesn’t get anywhere near it [the ball]. I think this is dangerous, Kenny.”
“We’ve seen it a million times,” Miller replied. “Johnston plants the leg in front of the ball. Lundstram is well entitled to go for the ball. He does catch Johnston, but for me that’s a booking and no more.”
Sutton then saw the still image and said Lundstram was a “goner”, which led to a furious outburst from his opposite number.
“He will be a goner because this is where we’re at in football no,” Miller exclaimed. “He’s going to win the ball, Johnston plants his leg and he catches him. It cannot be a red card. In real-time, that’s never a red card.”
Sutton then added that Lundstram caught Johnston above the ankle, and said the 30-year-old was “out of control”, before Miller raged again.
“There is no way that is a red card. Every kick can’t be a red card. Johnston plants his foot in the way. Incredible.”
Kenny Miller has lost it, Lundstram let Rangers down
As much as anyone who has played football will understand what Miller is trying to say, he’s straight up wrong to say it’s not a red card.
Lundstram is a super-experienced player and knew as soon as the referee whipped out a red card it was the right call, you could see it all over his face.
He goes in high, with a lot of force and recklessly and there was no other decision to be made in truth. For once, Sutton was right.
It was just dangerous and unnecessary from a player who should know better, and he let the team down because despite the deficit they had got themselves back into a position where the game was still there to be won.
It’s a horror tackle and had Callum McGregor done it to a player in blue, then you can be sure Ibrox fans would have been screaming for a red card too.
In other Rangers news, Nils Koppen leading transfer charge with advanced talks underway.
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