RANGERS NICK IT & WARNOCK FLIPS

Smyth debut delight but for City boss it’s a case of ref rage

visiting players and staff and further dented the Bluebirds’ promotion hopes.

Former QPR boss Warnock said: “It’s scandalous really, I’ve never known it as poor from officials as at the moment.

“And on a bad run you seem to get them, more if you are bottom of the league. They are not good enough now, for the last couple of years in the Premier League and the Championship it’s been poor.

“You just want the major decisions right, it’s no good seeing it on TV afterwards.

“We feel very hard done by. The ref is in a good position. He said it was deflected, but clearly Scowen has played the ball last. It’s hard enough to score without officials wrongly chalking them off. And in the first half Rhys Healey . . he should have had a clear penalty.

“That is three or four games where crucial decisions have gone against us. No wonder Arsene Wenger wants that video technology help.”

Rangers needed three points after just one win in their previous 10 outings and boss Ian Holloway said: “Giving Paul his debut was probably one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken, but sometimes someone else deserves a go if others are missing the chances.

“It could have gone horribly wrong but it didn’t. He was a breath of fresh air, the balance was right, the centre-halves struggled with him, and he handled it. We had been creating chances

“He has the legs up and around big Matt Smith, and we almost played with two No.10s today with Luke Freeman.

“I’m delighted he scored, he showed unbelievable character.”

Ralls rolled home the penalty after Jake Bidwell was ruled to have pushed Callum Paterson.

Smith then headed in Jack Robinson’s long throw – before flicking on for Smyth to race clear and win it.