Given Michael Beale attempted to pile pressure on referee Kevin Clancy in the build-up to today’s derby, it’s all a bit predictable he is making the officiating his main talking point after another defeat to Celtic.
Both Beale and Tavernier gave bitter interviews to Sky Sports in the wake of their 3-2 loss at Celtic Park, insisting that Alistair Johnston wasn’t fouled by Alfredo Morelos for a disallowed Rangers goal and that Jota handled the ball in the build-up to Kyogo Furuhashi’s second of the afternoon.
The Rangers boss said: “There are one or two decisions that have gone against us. I’m a bit disappointed with that. The goal Alfredo scores, their boy isn’t trying to play the ball and Alfredo’s shirt is twisted back – that would prove both of them are at it.
“After Ben’s mistake, I’m certain it hits the boy’s arm. It might not be outside his body but it hits his arm. They’re rough decisions for us today. I’m disappointed, I’m not a manager that’s gone for VAR this season but I think they’ve got them wrong.”
Tavernier added: “Their second goal was a handball. I didn’t believe our first goal was a foul. They are the margins. You’re coming away with zero points, that’s what we didn’t want to do, we’re all disappointed.”
There wasn’t much accountability from either Ibrox leaders for another failure against Celtic – the club’s third derby defeat this season alone, the other was a draw in a match they had to win.
The reality is, of course, that Celtic were well below the levels we know this team can reach and that Rangers still couldn’t lay a finger on them today. If I was one of their fans, I’d be more preoccupied with that rather than marginal decisions in a 90-minute match.
The Bhoys are now 12 points clear, having already won a big cup final derby this season. They’ll be red-hot favourites to do the business in an upcoming semi-final at Hampden, too.
The longer Rangers go on blaming perceived injustices and deflecting criticism away from the real failings at Ibrox, the better it will be for Celtic – so charge on.
No doubt we’ll hear all about how lucky the Bhoys are again shortly, or how a gap doesn’t really exist, or how we’re about to see the real Rangers. It’s all the fault of others!
In other news, Ange Postecoglou reacts as Celtic surge 12 points clear of Rangers.
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