Rangers are licking their wounds after a disastrous 2-2 draw with Motherwell left the club trailing Celtic by 14 points in the Scottish Premiership.
But as the Parkhead club start tying ribbons on a record-matching 55th title, it is an afternoon which could’ve been so much worse for the Ibrox side.
Flailing Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland has had a disastrous few matches between the sticks and was lucky not to concede a third Motherwell goal in the match.
Whilst the Ibrox stopper would’ve been glad to see one goal ruled out for offside, another incident where a strike was ruled out due to a push has caught the attentions of Stuart Kettlewell come full time.
Motherwell boss ‘flabbergasted’ by VAR call
As Jack Butland defended a Rangers corner, Motherwell striker Tony Watt was being a general nuisance in the Ibrox side’s box.
When the corner came in, Butland flapped at the kick and eventually bundled the ball into his own net whilst jostling with Watt for position.
VAR ruled that the goal could not stand due to a foul on the Rangers goalkeeper, replays showing Watt is clearly pulling down on Butland’s arm.
It’s something which has incensed Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell come full time.
”I’m literally flabbergasted that’s now blown for a foul,” Kettlewell told BBC Sport.
”For me it’s complete overprotection of the goalkeeper, I think he gets it all wrong.
”And the question I would ask is, if you actually look at the incident, Butland has a push out at Tony Watt to try and claim his space first.
”Tony then comes back leaning in towards the goalkeeper which you’re absolutely allowed to do, it’s a contact sport.
”So are we saying that the push from Butland starts to become a penalty. Is that a foul?
“If we’re deeming the bit that goes the other way, that’s where it starts to leave me really, really baffled with the whole thing.”
‘Rangers assistant said it was handball’
Plenty of a Rangers persuasion also reckon that Motherwell should’ve had their opening goal ruled out at Fir Park.
The Steelmen opened the scoring after a disastrous defensive header from Robin Propper, which did strike eventual goalscorer Apostolos Stamatelopoulos on the arm.
But after a VAR check the goal was allowed to stand, something which caused major criticism in Rangers circles.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement refused to be drawn on the incident come full time, insisting he has full ‘trust’ in the VAR to do its job correctly.
The Ibrox boss did however claim that one of his assistants did tell the Ibrox bench that the ball struck Stamatelopoulos on the arm.
”I didn’t see the images back so I believe in the VAR that they’re going to make the right decisions,” Clement told Sky Sports.
”I trust in that process. I didn’t see it back.
”My assistant said it was a handball in the first half but I didn’t see it back myself so I don’t want to take any conclusion on that.”
