Dermot Gallagher reckons Fashion Sakala was ONSIDE in the build up to Rangers’ third goal against Motherwell.
Michael Beale extended his unbeaten league run as Ibrox boss as his team came from behind to run out 4-2 winners in Lanarkshire. But the Steelmen were unhappy that Todd Cantwell’s first goal for the club to make it 3-2 was allowed to stand. Stuart Kettlewell said afterwards that replays showed Sakala was offside in the build up and that they would be seeking ‘clarification’ on the VAR offside process.
However, Gallagher has backed the officials, claiming they were right to let the goal stand, saying that Callum Butcher was playing the Zambian on, but the ‘optical illusion’ of the replay made him look off. He said on Sky Sports' ref watch: “The optical illusion comes on this one. People look at the body shape but when you look, it’s the furthest point forward he can score with. And the defender running back just plays him onside. You can see him at the bottom of the screen."
Callum Slattery saw red with just under 15 minutes left to play. He appeared to catch Cantwell with a flailing arm and was shown a second yellow of the game. Gallagher believes the Well midfielder would have been warned after committing fouls before this one while already on a booking, and it was proved to be one too many.
He said: “This may well have been an accumulation in fairness. He’d had a yellow card and he committed another two or three fouls before this. The referee had probably just spoken to him and said the next one, you’ve got to go."
There was controversy at Celtic Park on Saturday as well. Hibs were reduced to ten men when Elie Youan was shown two yellows in the first half for what seemed like fairly innocuous challenges.
Hibees boss Lee Johnson believed that his player was actually fouled by Hoops defender Cameron Carter-Vickers rather than the other way around. But Gallagher explained that it comes down to the ref’s interpretation of the foul in isolation, rather it resulting in Youan being given his marching orders.
“This is a strange situation, because Cameron Carter-Vickers goes to head the ball,” he admitted. “He will say high boot. Is he entitled to put his boot that high? Some will say Carter-Vickers is leaning down. How high does a boot have to be? Don’t forget, it wasn’t a red card. It was a second yellow. The referee’s said it was a high boot. You need to blot out that it was a red card due to the fact it was a second yellow. So it was a reckless challenge rather than a dangerous challenge.”
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