Dermot Gallagher reacts to contentious moment in Rangers loss v Kilmarnock
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that shouts for a Rangers penalty in the 1-0 loss against Kilmarnock were wide of the mark.
Jefte struck the ball towards goal and it hit a Kilmarnock defender on the hand in Sunday’s contest (20 October), which caused a bit of a stir among the Gers’ team as they believed it was a handball.
Philippe Clement’s men were handed their first Scottish Premiership loss since the 3-0 defeat in the Old Firm derby as they failed to seize a golden opportunity to cut the deficit in half between themselves and their title rivals.
Speaking live on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch (21 October, 11:54am), Gallagher shared his thoughts on the controversy.
“It comes off his body and then strikes the bottom of his arm. It’s not a handball.”
Rangers have no excuse for Kilmarnock loss
The Gers’ season thus far has been pretty terrible. The club are third in the Scottish Premiership, six points adrift of Aberdeen and Celtic, and just one point ahead of fourth-placed Dundee United.
At this moment in time, the Gers’ main problem isn’t chasing down their title rivals – it’s ensuring they keep third place, otherwise things could go from bad to worse rather quickly.
Dessers’ lack of goalscoring form isn’t helping matters much but the fact he’s the club’s only decent number nine at the moment means he has to start.
Danilo would no doubt be in with a shot for a starting role at the moment but, due to the numerous injuries he seems to sustain, causing him to be sidelined, there’s not a chance that the Nigeria international will be rested.
Indeed, Hamza Igamane is among the Gers’ ranks but he hasn’t yet settled into life in Glasgow and hasn’t shown what he’s fully capable of.
Something needs to change at Rangers soon, otherwise they can kiss their title hopes goodbye before Christmas.
In other Rangers news, Keith Jackson has hit out at Philippe Clement after the Gers’ loss to Kilmarnock.
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