Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was sent to the stands in an explosive moment of a match devoid of them as the Gers took one step closer to 55 in a 1-0 win at Livingston.
The Ibrox Gaffer was left furious after consistently incompetent referee John Beaton not only denied Rangers and Alfredo Morelos a penalty in the first half but booked the striker for simulation.
Replays showed it was a nailed-on penalty with Livingston goalkeeper Max Stryek catching the Colombian midway through the first period.
Gerrard confronted Beaton at half-time with the referee refusing point-blank to speak to the Rangers gaffer about the incident.
TV cameras caught part of Gerrard’s sweary rant which pretty much summed up the feelings of every Rangers supporter in that moment.
“I know why you’re not speaking to me, it’s because you got it ******* bang wrong,” said Gerrard.
“You’re bang out of order.”
Beaton initially flashed a yellow card at Gerrard before the Gers gaffer was eventually handed a second yellow as Beaton lost control of a match which generally was fluttering on by.
Alfredo Morelos would eventually score late on to win the game 1-0 but Rangers, Gerrard, and the club’s fans face a sweat over what happens next.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson was given a two-match ban for a similar incident in January but there is some good news for fans worrying the Ibrox gaffer could miss the club’s title party in the coming matches.
The incident involving Neilson and Beaton took place during Hearts’ 3-2 defeat to Raith Rovers on January 23rd but he wasn’t hauled in front of an SFA hearing until February 19th [Daily Record].
Whilst the incident did see Gerrard sent packing Ibrox supporters still applauded the Gers Gaffer for his commitment to the cause and calling out the shoddy refereeing:
https://twitter.com/CallumD72/status/1367190688195088384
https://twitter.com/sunshinekid10/status/1367200648672993291
https://twitter.com/_Robynnnx/status/1367189198478991360
That win puts Rangers within four points of a first league title in a decade in a remarkable season where the club remains unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League.
Here’s our report from the game as Rangers edged out 1-0 winners courtesy of an Alfredo Morelos strike.
