Motherwell stopper Callum Slattery has been defended over his red card during the Steelmen's 4-2 defeat to Rangers.
It was a comfortable victory in the end for the visitors despite Kevin van Veen putting the Lanarkshire side in the lead in the opening 10 minutes. Slattery was shown a second yellow card by referee Nick Walsh on the 75th minute of the defeat at Fir Park after he appeared to strike Gers midfielder Todd Cantwell on the face with his arm.
Michael Beale's side have closed the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to six points ahead of Celtic welcoming Hibernian to Parkhead later today. Van Veen tapped in after three minutes but Gers skipper James Tavernier levelled midway through the first half with a curling free-kick from 20 yards. Forward Fashion Sakala headed Rangers in front just after the break before Well substitute Bevis Mugabi equalised in the 59th minute only for Todd Cantwell to restore the Light Blues' lead with his first Gers goal since joining from Norwich in January. Gers substitute Malik Tillman grabbed the fourth to take the three points back to Ibrox.
One of the main talking points was the Slattery red card and former Rangers players Ally McCoist and Kenny Miller defended the midfielder. McCoist told Sky Sports: "There is definitely a flailing arm. I do think he is a bit unlucky, in the modern game you can't raise your hands at all but I don't think there is a deliberate attempt to hurt the player. I genuinely think he is trying to fend him off. I can understand why he has given a yellow card, but at the same time I have a great degree of sympathy."
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, Miller reckons Cantwell made the most of the situation: "We see this more often in football where the player on the ball looks as if he is trying to protect his self and the ball. If you have looked to swing your arm or elbow into the face of an opponent, I absolutely get it, but Slattery is in control. If he meant it then it's a second yellow and a red card but if not it's maybe a harsh scenario. What I would say is Cantwell made a meal of it and he's bounced up on his feet quickly."
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