Sky Sports host in disbelief as Kris Boyd reveals Chris Sutton text about Rangers incident vs Hibs
Chris Sutton immediately wanted to know why Rangers didn’t have John Souttar sent off when Hibs were awarded a penalty at Ibrox, according to Kris Boyd.
The Sky Sports pundit said live on the broadcaster’s half-time coverage of the Gers’ 1-0 Scottish Premiership win that the former Celtic striker, not present for the game, had contacted him as soon as Hibs were given a penalty in first-half stoppage time for handball after Souttar blocked Mykola Kuharevich’s attempt with an elbow.
Boyd insisted Jack Butland, who saved the spot kick, would have stopped the initial attempt so there was no need for a red card, after a VAR review from Kevin Clancy saw the penalty awarded, while host Eilidh Barbour couldn’t believe Sutton was involved.
Boyd said (1pm): “Can I just clear something up? My big friend has been texting saying, ‘Why’s he not been sent off?’
“He’s not been sent off because Jack Butland’s behind him and he’d have saved it, so he wasn’t denying a goalscoring opportunity.
“There you go Mr Sutton.”
Barbour replied: “I can’t believe we’re talking about him and he’s not here.”
Boyd protested: “Straight away he texts me! Straight away! ‘Why’s it not a red card?’ Honestly.”
“I thought we were gonna get a break today,” said James McFadden.
John Souttar avoids card as Rangers concede penalty
In the event Souttar wasn’t even booked for the close-range contact with his arm, albeit the attempt didn’t look especially threatening.
Tom Lawrence’s stunning opener had put Philippe Clement’s side ahead, after another VAR review to show that he was onside in the build up.
The timing of the penalty threatened to derail what had been a reasonably solid half but Kuharevich’s kick after a stuttering run up was easily kept out by Butland.
Clement’s Rangers have been building their way out of a hole in the wake of the dismal defeat in the Old Firm derby, with the excellent 2-0 win at Malmo in midweek the high point of the season so far.
A scruffy second half performance against Hibs demonstrated that there is still a long way to go, while Clement’s changes at half-time seemingly had a negative effect.
It was a good thing Souttar did remain on the pitch with the Scotland international seemingly now established as the top central-defensive option, although new man Robin Propper had a more encouraging display after a shaky start in Glasgow.
In other Rangers news, a pundit fears Celtic may have lined up a secret deal to sign a player he is desperate for the Gers to sign.
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