McInnes feels sending-off was ‘extremely harsh’ as he questions rule

DEREK McINNES has questioned why referee David Dickinson added on eight minutes at the end of the first half during Kilmarnock’s match against Rangers at Ibrox yesterday afternoon.

The fourth-place Rugby Park club were leading 1-0 at the end of the opening 45 minutes in the cinch Premiership encounter in Govan thanks to James

Tavernier’s own goal.

But Dickinson, who had made two VAR checks on his pitchside monitor, allowed play to continue and Fabio Silva netted an equaliser shortly before he blew his whistle for half time.

McInnes, who felt the red card which his centre-half Joe Wright was shown for a handball on the goal line was “extremely harsh”, was perplexed about where the match official found so much extra time.

“It was good character and personality to get ourselves in front against the odds,” he said following the 4-1 defeat. “Scoring the first goal is magic for that.

“Any time Rangers played in front of us we were absolutely fine. I didn’t think they were moving the ball quick enough to cause us problems. We showed good aggression and confidence. I thought we looked like the team in that early part of the game that we have been all season.

The game changes on the sending off. We got ourselves in a bit of a fankle to be honest. And then it’s the whole thing about double jeopardy.

“There is no doubt it has hit Joe’s arm, but I think it is accidental although he stopped a goal-scoring opportunity. Penalty yes, sending off? If that is the rule then it is the rule, but I am not sure it should be the rule.

“I thought it was extremely harsh given the circumstances. The penalty would have sufficed.”