Des Roache believes Rangers should have been down to ten men vs Aberdeen

Former SFA referee Des Roache is of the view that James Penrice deserved a red card against Aberdeen. Rangers ended the game with 11 players rather than 10, which played a major role in their victory.

Penrice, who started in a different position than he is normally used to, had a tough evening at Hampden Park. Surprisingly, he was the one who ended up providing the assist for Ryan Naderi’s winner.

However, he would not have been on the pitch had the on-field referee Ryan Lee made the right call, according to Roache. In his view, both Lee as well as John Beaton, the VAR, got it wrong, and it was a poor first half from them.

“A red card would be absolutely warranted. Poor first half from Ryan Lee and John Beaton.”

What exactly did James Penrice do against Aberdeen?

Penrice and Afeez Aremu both contested for the ball in the first half of the game and the Gers man actually lifted his foot high and found himself making contact with the midriff of the Aberdeen man with his studs facing him. While the stills will make the incident a lot worse, the Scotsman knows that he’s lucky to avoid a sending-off.

Had this decision gone against Rangers, fans would have been furious and rightly so, as it was hard to argue against a sending-off. However, games can be won and lost by moments like these, and McInnes will be delighted that fortune favoured his side on the night.