Things we learned in Villarreal stalemate...
RANGERS Candeias can’t be happy, pitch invader wasn’t, McGregor
ANOTHER quiet Thursday night at Ibrox, eh? What was always going to be an absorbing Europa League contest between Rangers and Villarreal descended into chaos about a minute before half-time. At the centre of the maelstrom was Slovenian referee Matej Jug and his officiating team, who altered the course of this match when he awarded Daniel Candeias with his second yellow card of the evening, and after a perplex- ing delay, followed it up with the red card.
With Alfredo Morelos appearing to be more guilty of barging Santiago Caseres to the ground, it appeared harsh that Candeias was to find himself in the dock. Certain images admittedly made it look as though Candeias had stamped on the Villarreal man, but, in real time, it looked more as if he had attempted to avoid planting his foot down on the player. Let’s just say Mr Jug wasn’t the most popular man in the stadium, with a fan coming on to the pitch to remonstrate with one of his assistant referees and having to be manhandled off the turf again.
But a fine rearguard effort a man down for Rangers was enough to secure a point which keeps their hopes of a last 32 spot alive going into the last day against Vienna. What exactly can we make of this turn of events and what lessons were there to be learned from a stormy night in Govan? 1 More mistaken identity? Considering the Ibrox side somewhat mischievously used the ‘mistaken identity’ defence to appeal against Candeias’ sending off against St Mirren earlier this month, an incident which the club were issued with five SFA notices of complaint for on Wednesday night, it was ironic to see the same man being dismissed again on a night when mis-identification might again have come into play.
While Candeias can hardly be said to be entirely blameless in the affair, having earned a rather unnecessary first booking for catching Jaume Costa late as he attempted to press the ball, the incident which led to his dismissal began with Rangers actually feeling they should have had a free kick for a foul on James Tavernier, even if the Englishman made too much of the incident.
And if anyone deserved a booking in the seconds which followed it was Alfredo Morelos, the little Colombian diving in recklessly on Santiago Caseres. While Candeias ended up falling on top of the Villarreal No 5, there was little evidence of him doing anything untoward.
No wonder the vast majority of visitors to this stadium last night were perplexed and a little angry when Mr Jug booked him for the incident, then after appearing to forget he was on a booking followed it with a red. As the half-time whistle went, Tavernier was telling the referee that the foul was on him, and Candeias was essentially blameless.
2 Unwelcome pitch invader Feeling a sense of injustice, the incident sparked chaotic scenes for a minute or so around this ground, something the Ibrox side are likely to hear more about from Uefa.
A supporter leapt from the Sandy Jardine stand to remonstrate with an assistant referee, although thankfully any abuse aimed at him