Keith Hackett accuses Rangers star of ‘cheating’ vs Hibs, it went unpunished by Don Robertson
Rangers secured a 1-0 victory over Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, but the victory didn’t come without its fair share of controversy.
Following his disastrous performance in Rangers’ defeat to Ferencvaros on Thursday night, it was Emmanuel Fernandez who gave Danny Rohl’s men the lead with a glancing header after a superb Dujon Sterling cross.
Sterling impressed at right-back against Hibs on his first start for the Light Blues in seven months, and was one of the few players who could hold his head high after another tepid display at Ibrox.
But on a night when the hosts secured a priceless three points ahead of their showdown with Hearts on Sunday, one of Rohl’s players was lucky to get away without a caution.
Nasser Djiga should have been booked for diving vs Hibernian
In an edgy clash at Ibrox, Rangers pushed and probed to score a second and give themselves some breathing space in the tie.
Rohl’s men even had calls of a penalty shout waved away when Nasser Djiga went down in the box under a challenge from Jack Iredale.
However, replays showed that there was minimal contact on Djiga, and speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Keith Hackett accused the Burkina Faso international of ‘cheating’ after escaping a booking from referee Don Robertson.
“It is a clear act of simulation attempting to deceive the referee. Referees need to operate a much stricter approach to these acts of cheating and sanction the offending player,” Hackett said.
“Until they do this we will see players sadly committing more of these types of actions in an attempt to win a penalty kick or a sanction against an opponent.”
It was Djiga’s final Rangers game before heading to AFCON, and on the evidence of his performances since joining on loan from Wolves, he won’t be missed.
Dujon Sterling proved he can step up
On his first start for Rangers in seven months, Sterling was sensational for the hosts, producing a complete performance at right-back.
The 26-year-old made a goal-line clearance in the first half to save his side and then provided an assist for Fernandez’s header.
In just 61 minutes on the pitch, Sterling made four clearances, two interceptions, and three recoveries while recording two key passes and two accurate crosses.
Sterling’s game time will have to be managed after returning from a long-term injury, but he just proved he can step into defence and perform like he’s never been away.
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