Ross County boss Malky Mackay was absolutely raging at referee Don Robertson’s decision not to award a second yellow card to Rangers’ James Sands when it appeared that he brought down Jordy Hiwula.
The US international was very fortunate to stay on the pitch and soon after was replaced at half time by Leon King, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst played it safe.
Having already been booked, Sands was very clumsy in a bad position with the County player set to close in on Jon McLaughlin. It appeared that Robertson bottled the call as it was a yellow card offence.
In that regard, Mackay is correct and there will be plenty on social media with their own agendas highlighting the incident but they won’t be too vocal on the terrible initial decision that saw Sands pick up a card. Funny that.
It was also Don Robertson who inexplicably allowed Livingston’s Cancar to be subbed off when he should have been red carded on the opening day of the season against Rangers. That is what we are up against in the Scottish game, a consistently poor standard from the officials.
🗣️"A decision happens that is beyond me as to why he wasn't sent off. It changes the balance of the game. You have got to get decisions like that right."
Ross County Malky Mackay was "hurting" after Rangers' James Sands was not shown a first-half red at Ibrox ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2xWk1XA4qY
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 27, 2022
Call
The score was still 0-0 when Sands and Hiwula collided. If Rangers go down to 10 men it would have had an impact on the game, how much, we will never know but after the first goal it was then a matter of how many as Rangers went through the gears to record a very impressive victory.
“The referee has said to me that if he has got it wrong, he will give me a call tonight, so we’ll see…,” stated Mackay when asked by Sky Sports if he had spoken to the officials.
Expect that conversation to materialise but it should also be one to explain that the first booking for Sands was also an error.
Ross County manager Malky Mackay unhappy Rangers weren't reduced to 10 men for this. "Sands pulls down Jordy with two hands round his waist. He’d been booked but it’s inexplicable how it’s not a straight red, never mind a booking which would take him off."pic.twitter.com/fDv9HWCTzV
— Barry Anderson (@BarryAnderson_) August 27, 2022
Has Mackay any comment on the first ridiculous booking for Sands. What about the clear cut penalty for an obvious handball denied to Rangers. Lundstram was correctly booked for pulling back an opponent. What about the Ross County player who committed an even worse pull back on a Rangers player but was not booked .