Leon Balogun’s Rangers red card analysed as Dermot Gallagher delivers one word verdict over Motherwell sending off
DERMOT GALLAGHER has delivered a one word verdict on Leon Balogun's red card against Motherwell.
The Rangers defender was handed his marching orders for a crunching tackle on Dean Cornelius during the Saturday lunchtime Fir Park clash.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men were one goal up at the time of the challenge which Nick Walsh deemed as a straight red.
The hosts made the man advantage count just seven minutes later as they levelled through Ross Tierney after Liam Kelly's early own goal.
But Rangers went on to pick up all three points thanks to second half strikes from Scott Wright and a penalty from James Tavernier.
Speaking during the Ref Watch segment on Sky Sports about the red card incident with host Rob Wotton, the former EPL whistler said: “One word Rob. Wow.
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“That will always be a red card when you make a challenge like that.
“He goes over the ball.”
The victory leaves Rangers six points behind rivals Celtic - who boast a superior goal difference - at the top of the Premiership with four games to play.
The rivals go head to head at Parkhead this weekend following the Light Blues' Europa League semi-final first leg clash with RB Leipzig.
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The Ibrox side are dreaming of reaching Seville for the showpiece where they would face one of Frankfurt or West Ham.
Victory over Celtic would reduce the gap to three points with three games to play but a defeat would all but end their hopes of retaining their Premiership crown.
Rangers also have the Scottish Cup Final next month with Hearts providing the opposition at Hampden.
On Balogun's red card, Van Bronckhorst said: "Leon wanted to win the tackle, but in these circumstances the margins are very small.
"The referee decided to show the red card and we had to respect that.
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“I concentrated more on how to play and make sure we had the focus on the minutes we had to play after the sending-off.
“We had to adjust the game plan because we had started well, we were 1-0 up and we were in control of the game.
"We conceded the goal but I think we changed the game in the second-half and did really well. We were the ones who created the chances.
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“Although we had one man less, the players did what we wanted them to do and even with ten men we had chances to score."
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