Nick Walsh got it wrong with Max Aarons incident in Rangers draw vs St Mirren
Rangers put in another concerning performance on Sunday as they drew 1-1 with St Mirren.
The Gers were behind for a large portion of the match thanks to Jonah Ayunga first-half goal. However, Findlay Curtis came off the bench to secure a point with a fantastic finish.
Nevertheless, many Rangers players put in another poor display versus St Mirren, with points dropped for a third league game in a row.
As a result, Russell Martin is no doubt under heavy pressure at Rangers as the search for his first Scottish Premiership victory goes on.
One player who put in a poor performance was Max Aarons. However, he may have been harshly treated by the referee in the first half.
Ibrox News presents the exclusive opinion of former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee Keith Hackett.
Keith Hackett: Max Aarons shouldn’t have been shown a yellow card
There were plenty of incidents in the first half that would have boiled the blood of the Rangers fanbase.
However, one of the most frustrating was an incident between Aarons and St Mirren’s Mark O’Hara.
The two players appeared to clash in an off-the-ball incident, which resulted in referee Nick Walsh handing the duo a yellow card.
Walsh was blasted by Neil McCann for the “ridiculous” incident in Rangers’ draw, and former referee Keith Hackett agrees that it wasn’t handled correctly by the whistler.
Speaking to Ibrox News, he said: “There is a recognised step process in officiating operated over many years.
“1. The quiet word one-to-one with the player out of the public gaze.
“2. The public and more visual warning using the captains to underpin your comment that you want an improvement in players’ behaviour.
“3. The issuing of a sanction of a yellow card.
“This is a clash, and I would frankly have expected the referee to demonstrate his authority with a blast on the whistle and a verbal warning.
“In this incident, there is frankly an issue very reaction by the referee setting the bar low on further incidents that he will have to adjudicate on.”
- Read more: What Russell Martin’s said about two Rangers players ‘just doesn’t add up after Ibrox shambles’
Russell Martin needs more from Max Aarons
Once again, Aarons struggled for Rangers on Sunday before he was taken off 69 minutes in.
According to Fotmob on 24 August, the right-back was awarded a 6.7 for his performance after having little effect in defence and attack.
| Max Aarons vs St Mirren | |
| Minutes | 69 |
| Passing accuracy | 92% |
| Successful dribbles | 1 |
| Successful crosses | 0 |
| Dispossessed | 1 |
| Defensive contributions | 1 |
| Rating | 6.7 |
Aarons had already been criticised this week for his performance in Rangers’ defeat to Club Brugge.
If this continues, Martin may have to consider dropping Aarons, with Rangers unable to carry passengers given their recent form.
If not, the Scotsman is under real threat of being relieved of his duties just months after taking the Ibrox job.
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