Rangers: Michael Stewart laughs and calls out Celtic fans for red card controversy
Rangers should have seen Celtic defender Alistair Johnston receive a red card in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.
The right-back’s challenge on Mikey Moore in the 39th minute when the game was 1-1 at Parkhead on 10 May, should have led to a sending off, but Nick Walsh and VAR didn’t think so.
That’s what Michael Stewart believes and the former Scotland international has been surprised to see no one associated with the Hoops admitting that their team was lucky to get away with it.
While Alan Hutton was giving his take on the incident, suggesting that Johnston should have been sent off, former Celtic defender Johan Mjallby seemed to disagree with the assessment, prompting a reaction from Stewart.
Martin O’Neill got the better of Danny Rohl on the day as the hosts won 3-1, but fans in G51 have every right to be aggrieved by the officials, as a different decision in that moment could have changed the game.
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Danny Rohl can’t use Rangers excuse after loss vs Celtic
Speaking on the Scottish Football Social Club on 11 May, Stewart said, “That’s a red. I’m laughing at Johan [Mjallby]. I’ve not seen a single Celtic person actually saying, ‘We were fortunate there.’
“There’s no way, roles reversed, change the teams, if you have that tackle done on you as the receiving team, you’re always going to be claiming it as a red card. The second angle they showed at half time on Sky, I don’t know why it took till half time by the way to show it. I don’t understand why.”
Rohl can surely blame certain moments in the Old Firm derby that determined the final result, but the 37-year-old head coach has to take some responsibility.
| Celtic | Rangers | |
| 51% | Possession | 49% |
| 1.04 | xG | 0.91 |
| 3 | Big chances | 2 |
| 9 | Total shots | 9 |
| 2 | Goalkeeper saves | 1 |
Apart from the Ibrox faithful’s obvious disgruntlement with the officials, they haven’t been impressed by the German manager’s tactics and approach to games.
Rohl’s starting lineups in the last few matches have raised a few eyebrows among supporters in G51, with the former Sheffield Wednesday boss’ inexperience now becoming an issue.
With the relatively young head coach failing to beat O’Neill in the four times they’ve met, it looks like there’s still a lot of learning for the German national to do.
Danny Rohl may have until Christmas at Ibrox
Andrew Cavenagh is backing Rohl for now, but the German manager will be expected to get to a strong start next season.
The biggest test for the ex-Owls boss in the 2026-27 campaign will surely be against Celtic and Hearts.
Rangers fans will also be expecting to go all the way in the Premier Sports Cup, but if Rohl can’t lift silverware by Christmas time, he may be on his way out.
With the noise around the head coach at Ibrox growing louder, only success can ease tensions in G51.
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