McInnes penalty call blast

Derek McInnes was left perplexed why Kilmarnock weren’t given a penalty in their Ibrox defeat.

The game looked beyond the Ayrshire side after losing three goals to Rangers in the first half.

But they rallied after the break and before Jeriel Dorsett pulled a goal back, Rory McKenzie was upended by a clumsy Allan McGregor challenge.

Ref Willie Collum gave a corner instead of a penalty and wasn’t instructed to consult the VAR.

McInnes praised the officials for rightly giving Gers a spot-kick in the first half but he was baffled by their decision not to punish McGregor.

“It’s inexplicable,” he said. “I asked the fourth official because Willie gave a corner – but it was a penalty before that.

“Greegsy has come down the back of Rory’s leg. It’s an untidy challenge and one that

McINNES penalty fury merited a penalty. The fourth official told me they were checking it, which gave me confidence a decision would be made.

“It would be nice to have it explained to me because I don’t get it.

“For Rangers’ penalty it seemed to take an eternity and I didn’t really know what it was for at the time.

“But it was a good example of VAR working properly. Having seen it again, it is a penalty.

“The ball skidded off the surface and caught young Ryan Alebiosu’s arm.”

McInnes admitted his side – who haven’t won away from home in the league this term – had a mountain to climb after a poor first half.

He said: “The start was rotten for us, losing a goal from a set play.

“At half-time it’s tough mentally for me to say the right words to the players.

“We spoke at half-time about trying to win the second half – and we did.

“I told them to show they care, play with pride.

“Ultimately, that’s what we’ve done so that’s a positive for me.”