BBC reporter ‘not convinced’ by what he saw in Rangers 4-0 win v FCSB at Ibrox
BBC Sport reporter Kheredine Idessane was “not convinced” by the decision to disallow FCSB’s goal against Rangers in the 4-0 win on Thursday (24 October).
David Miculescu stole the ball off Jack Butland in the first minutes of the Europa League tie at Ibrox and converted into an empty net, only for referee Marco Di Bello to blow his whistle for a supposed foul.
Idessane joined the long list of those to tear into the Gers’ goalkeeper while covering the game for BBC Sport Scotland [24 October, 9:06pm], and added that he believes the referee made the wrong decision.
He said: “I’ve now seen about 17 replays and re-runs of the disallowed FCSB ‘goal’ early on, when David Miculescu thought he had robbed the dallying Jack Butland to roll the ball in.
“Still not convinced I’m seeing a foul. Referee Marco Di Bello did, however, and his early whistle prevented VAR from getting involved.”
Rangers saved from embarrassment against FCSB
FCSB will travel back to Romania wondering what could have been against Rangers. Elias Charalambous will be furious his side was denied an early opening goal, which could have set up a far more nervy encounter at Ibrox.
Instead, the Gers took the lead minutes later via Tom Lawrence before a Vaclav Cerny brace and Hamza Igamane strike in the final stages secured a comfortable European night for Philippe Clement.
The Belgian desperately needed a resounding response from his players after the 1-0 loss against Kilmarnock last weekend, and his side certainly lived up to the billing with the Light Blues now comfortably in contention to quality for the knockout playoff rounds.
However, as always with Rangers, the result is never as it seems. Cyriel Dessers somehow managed to produce an invisible performance in a one-sided contest as the flaws within the side were still clear to see.
Clement is now in a position where he must adjust his priorities for the season until January at the very least. A six-point gap now separates the Gers from Scottish Premiership pacesetters Celtic and Aberdeen, with a clash with the latter to come next week.
The result of the trip to Pittodrie will define Rangers’ season, as anything less than three points and the league can comfortably sit on the back burner at Ibrox.
All the eggs should then be thrown in the Europa League basket with ties against Tottenham and Manchester United holding significant importance.
In other Rangers news, Gers fans shocked David Tanner outside Ibrox in a damning development for Philippe Clement.
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