Mellon glad Edwards escaped ban for tackle

MICKY MELLON was pleased to see Dundee United defender Ryan Edwards go unpunished for his clash with Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.

The centre-back won the ball in a challenge with Morelos at Ibrox on Saturday but caught the forward around the knee with his follow-through, with the Colombia international carried off on a stretcher nursing a gash.

It is understood that Scottish Football Association compliance officer Clare Whyte referred Edwards’ challenge to three former referees but they could not reach the required unanimous decision that it warranted further action.

Morelos was on the bench for Rangers in their Europa League victory over Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar last night.

Mellon, who also confirmed that striker Osman Sow, released by the club in the summer, had played in a recent clash against Raith Rovers, gave Edwards a glowing character reference.

He said: “Ryan absolutely is a really good kid, a real good competitor and a real honest competitor.

“That first and foremost what I will absolutely say about a boy that I know. Secondly, I don’t make the decisions.

“We have to respect, everybody in Scottish football has to respect that people are paid or tasked with doing that.

“What we have to do is sit back and see what they feel they have to do and on that occasion that’s what they felt that they had to do and then we get on with that.

“But I know Ryan better than a lot of people who are talking about him do.

“He’s a good competitor, a fair competitor and a really good guy and I’m pleased that it’s come out this way.”