McInnes has dig at Windass after Ball call
Anderson equalises for Dons at the death after 10- man Ibrox side dominated game
DEREK McINNES claimed it ‘ doesn’t take a lot’ for Josh Windass to go down after brushing off suggestions Dominic Ball should have been sent off at Pittodrie.
The Dons defender escaped punishment for the foul on Windass that resulted in referee Kevin Clancy awarding Rangers a first- half penalty.
James Tavernier converted from the spot but the Gers were denied all three points as Bruce Anderson snatched a point for Aberdeen in injury time.
“No I don’t think so,” McInnes said when asked if Ball was lucky not to be sent off. “I think it was soft, at the time.
“I don’t know what exactly the rules are now with that. It doesn’t take a lot for Josh Windass to go down a lot of times anyway but my staff have looked at it and they thought it was a penalty.
“I don’t know if it’s a red card. I’m disappointed with a lot of the decisions at times today. But my team kept their composure and their discipline, which was always very important in these types of games.”
The incident with Ball and Windass was the second big decision Clancy had to make after he sent Alfredo Morelos off after just 12 minutes.
The Colombian was involved in an off- the- ball incident with Scott McKenna and Clancy gave him a straight red card following consultation with his assistant.
McInnes said: “The rules are, it doesn’t matter how hard you kick, if you kick you put yourself at risk. So I don’t think he can have any complaints.
“For me, if you lift your feet and go to kick out and lash out the laws of the game don’t say how hard the kick is. He clearly kicked.” A DRAW will have felt like a defeat for Steven Gerrard. Amid the concoction of emotions in his first Premiership match in charge of Rangers, the feeling of pride will surely stand out.
On course for a memorable v i c t o r y a f t e r Jame s Tavernier converted from the spot, Rangers were denied at the death. It wasn’t what they deserved but it was what many would have taken following Alfredo Morelos’s early red card.
This was a battle and Rangers had to dig deep. That they did just that will satisfy Gerrard and the annoyance of two points dropped will fade upon reflection of a terrific effort from his side.
This was a match that Rangers would surely have lost last season. If they can turn them into wins, like they could so easily have done here, Gerrard has a chance of ensuring his maiden term in the dugout will be remembered for all the right reasons.
The Gers fans who made the trip to the north east did so high in both hope and expectation as the new Premiership campaign finally got off and running.
The arrival of Gerrard in May has revitalised the suppor t . Af t er a few nightmare years, they are daring to dream once again.
Europa League outings with Shkupi and Osijek, and the friendly wins over Bury and Wigan, have given them an insight into this new- look side. This was a day where they would learn more about their manager and his recruits.
The destination of the points, of course, were always going to be the most important thing but the performance was enlightening. In the face of adversity, Rangers stood up to the challenge. Gers sides of recent seasons have lacked the character and mentality that supporters demand but that shouldn’t be the case this time out with someone like Gerrard in the dugout.
This may not have been the fixture the 38- year- old would have handpicked to start the season, but it was a headline- grabbing opener to what could be a blockbuster campaign and Gerrard will know a little more about his players after a controversial yet entertaining 90 minutes.
There have been no shortage of flashpoints in the meetings between these two over the years and this historically highly- charged fixture had the potential to be another cracker on the first day of the campaign. It didn’t disappoint.
Rangers should have been ahead inside the opening five minutes but Jamie Murphy couldn’t beat Joe Lewis after collecting a terrific through ball from Connor Goldson. It was an early sign that Rangers were here to attack, though.
That blueprint could have gone out the window when Morelos was sent off but Gerrard’s side stuck to their task despite their man disadvantage. It was a problem they should never have had to solve, right enough.
The coming- together between Morelos and Scott McKenna was innocuous and the Colombian made little contact with a flick that was unnoticed by the majority inside Pittodrie. After a section of the home support roared in protest, Kevin Clancy flashed the red card.
It was a baffling call from the referee and one which could only have been made after consultation with
This was a match that Rangers surely would have lost last season
assistant David McGeachie. However the outcome was reached, there could be no argument that it was the wrong one.
Ger rard cou ld have remonstrated over the decision as his side were left up against it inside the opening quarter of an hour. His mind was on shuffling his pack, however, as his remaining forwards – Josh Windass and Murphy – were given fresh instructions.
Rangers may have been a man down but it didn’t show as Aberdeen failed to capitalise. Soon, they were ahead on the park but behind on the scoreboard.
Lewis dealt with an effort from Scott Arfield but he was soon picking the ball out of his net as Rangers took the l e a d b e f o r e t h e half- hour mark.
Windass was bundled over by Dominic Ball and Clancy got the decision right this time as he pointed to the