Steven Gerrard has heavily criticised Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous after a ‘very dangerous’ tackle on Lassana Coulibaly at Easter Road on Wednesday night.
The youngster took out the Rangers midfielder with a wild lunge in the 79th minute, with referee Craig Thomson only showing him a yellow card, much to the frustration of Gers supporters.
It was a tackle that could have seriously injured the Malian international and Gerrard was clearly unhappy with it in his post-match interview.
As quoted by The Express, the Ibrox boss said: “I was upset with Porteous’ tackle because he didn’t try to play the ball. The ref was three yards away and that was a very dangerous tackle. In my book, in Neil Lennon’s book, in anyone’s book, that was a dangerous tackle.”
Porteous is just 19 years of age and still learning the game but he should take Gerrard’s words to heart.
You can’t go around making challenges like that and Thomson should have done more to send a statement that they are unwelcome in Scottish football.
Full blooded tackles are expected but it’s a different story when there is blatantly no attempt to play the ball and simply scythe down an opponent.
Given the silly red cards that have been dished out this season, it’s beyond the pale to see challenges like that one not be severely punished.
Luckily Coulibaly appeared to escape unscathed.
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