Craig Gordon says St. Mirren should have had penalty against Rangers

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Craig Gordon has told BBC Sportscene that he believes St. Mirren should have been awarded a penalty against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon – as the Gers earned a somewhat comfortable 3-0 win.

Rangers have taken an early two-point lead over Old Firm rivals Celtic as an own goal from Conor McCarthy and a brace from Alfredo Morelos – his first league goals of 2020 – saw the Gers win a second game in two.

Meanwhile, Celtic failed to beat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park – drawing 1-1. But the result could have been very different had referee Andrew Dallas handed St. Mirren a penalty for a foul on Jamie McGrath.

Glen Kamara’s clumsy challenge was right on the edge of the penalty area, with McGrath falling out of the penalty area under Kamara’s tackle. Dallas waved away the claims, but Gordon thinks it should have been a spot kick.

“I think it is,” Gordon said, when asked if it was a penalty. “For the referee, it is so difficult because of where he lands. His foot is almost on the line and if it is on the line, then it is a penalty kick. I think they have a strong case.”

TBR’s view – Clumsy but soft

Kamara is certainly clumsy and it is one of those where the decision can go either way. Had VAR been in play, it is likely to have been one of those decisions where they side with the referee’s initial decision.

Arguably, it is a penalty as it is probably a foul elsewhere on the pitch. But it is a soft one and it falls under the category of one that can be given on one day, and ignored the next. This time, Rangers got lucky.