Chris Sutton has claimed that goalkeeper Allan McGregor should have been sent off in Rangers’ 4-2 win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.
McGregor was lucky to have avoided the same fate as Alfredo Morelos after a raised foot made contact with Dons ace Lewis Ferguson in the second-half.
Morelos had earlier been shown a straight red card for a clash with Scott McKenna, who was also sent off, and Celtic legend Sutton believes that the referee should have done the same with McGregor.
Speaking on his personal Twitter account, Sutton said: “Red … penalty…but ref bottled it…”
Red … penalty…but ref bottled it… https://t.co/3a3aSN0s4m
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) February 6, 2019
OPINION
McGregor was definitely lucky to have avoided being sent off. It’s not the first time this season that the experienced Scotland international has been in a similar situation and when there was just a one-goal lead at the time, and Morelos had also been sent off, it was simply stupid by the shot-stopper. McGregor proved his worth towards the end of the game with a great save to help keep the Gers ahead – if it was Wes Foderingham in goal then it could have been a different story. McGregor is invaluable and has been one of the best players at Ibrox this term, so he cannot be so reckless. Just because he is somehow getting away with it every week doesn’t mean that he should be doing it. One day a referee will spot him or the Scottish FA will charge him for violent conduct. He could be banned for a few games then and the thought of a rusty Foderingham playing in big games could be it in the title race.