Rangers fans everywhere were so close to having the perfect weekend yesterday. Celtic had lost 1-0 to Hearts on Saturday and with Scottish Premier League new boys, St Mirren travelling to Ibrox, it looked like things would be going perfectly for the Gers. Steven Gerrard’s side put the 2017/18 Scottish Championship winners to the sword, but a red card to Ross McCrorie dampened the mood.
31' RED CARD: Ross McCrorie is sent off for a slide tackle as St Mirren looked set to burst into the box. 2:0
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 12, 2018
When the youngster was shown the red card his side was already 2-0 up and Gerrard made the smart move to sit on their lead and St Mirren failed to leave a dent on the tough Ibrox side’s backline. There are definitely going to be fewer complaints about this red card to McCrorie than there was last week when Alfredo Morelos was given his marching orders, although that’s not to say there isn’t any angry Bluenoses.
Discipline looks like being a bit of a problem for Rangers and it will be up to Stevie G, who was sent off seven times himself in his playing days, to sort that issue out. Most fans will be questioning the integrity of the referee for the two red cards they’ve received in as many weeks but the fact that they’re giving the referee the opportunity to brandish the card is reckless in itself and something that the supporters will be keen to see their side get through a league game with 11 men on the pitch.
You can read the Gers’ verdict on McCrorie’s dismissal here:
Oh another red card what a surprise
— SMITHY (@smithycrs92) 12 August 2018
Honest mistake from the @ScottishFA yet again
— David Nimmo (@Nimsay1872) 12 August 2018
— aj (@arranj_) August 12, 2018
— Sam (@SMSWFC) 12 August 2018
2 in 2 games. Wow
— Ciaran (@ciaran_s21) August 12, 2018
He should have just pulled his shirt, that doesn’t even merit a yellow
— Stable Genius Dotard (@free_thinker555) 12 August 2018
Ref meeting his quota.
— Alston Street Studio (@AlstonSt_Studio) August 12, 2018
The Gers are far from pleased with the way their side is being treated by referees and they’ll be hoping next week’s trip to Kilmarnock can see them finish the game, or even just the first half, with 11 men on the pitch.
