I Candei believe it
Rangers slam referee over red card for winger as Rangers put two past Buddies
Steven Gerrard last night savaged ref Willie Column and branded his red card on Daniel Candeias an embarrassment.
The Portuguese winger was sent off for a second yellow in injury time of the win over St Mirren that lifted Rangers up third spot in the league. But TV footage clearly
shows the 30-year-old – booked the first time for celebrating his opening goal in the crowd – did nothing to earn it.
Blowing kisses to the fans, he copped a punch on the chin from Anton Ferdinand (right) as the Saints defender tried to escort him back to the halfway line for the restart.
However, because it’s not mistaken identity or simulation there’s no right of appeal for the Ibrox side to prevent a ban on their player. That left Gerrard fuming as he watched replays during his post-match press conference.
The Gers boss said: “Daniel deserved his first yellow. He was emotional and got carried away after scoring, which I understand because we had worked so hard for the breakthrough.
“There was a coming together with Ferdinand and he doesn’t do anything wrong other than trying to get the man off. It’s not a yellow card, not in my book.
“Look at it … so Daniel gets a yellow card for that? Come on. Be serious.
“What does he get a yellow card for? The second yellow is embarrassing. There is your evidence, that’s what you’re dealing with.”
Gerrard was delighted with the three points after a rough week though. Defeat to Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup semis followed by dropped points in the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock had Gers under pressure. He said: “We are going to have sticky moments, bumps in the road, but the important thing is we stick together and try to do the right things. “The first half was tough. I said to my staff if we were level at half-time we would win. The most important thing is we didn’t concede. I was pleased at 0-0 because I knew we would create in the second half.”