‘He shouldn’t be on the park’ – Scott Brown blasts Willie Collum as Fabio Silva seals Rangers win after red card claim
SEETHING Scott Brown has accused Willie Collum of crumbling under the pressure after failing to send off Fabio Silva.
The Portuguese - who scored Rangers’ all important second goal in the 2-0 win over Ayr - was on a booking when he caught George Stanger early in the second half.
Ref Collum awarded the free-kick, but Silva escaped further punishment.
And Ayr boss Brown blasted after the match: “The second goal comes from a man who probably shouldn’t be on the park.
“It was a big decision, a pressure decision and it probably was not the right decision.
“Pressure is a key thing in football and we dealt with it really well.
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“We knew Rangers were going to get opportunities but I don’t think they got that many.
“From the goalie out, I thought we were exceptional tonight.
“But I knew he was never going to get sent off, that it was never going to be a red card.
“I think if it had been the other way around it could have been.
“It was the pressure, coming into these big occasions.
“Some people can deal with it, some people can’t.
“There is no point asking him about it, it doesn’t change anything.
“I was disappointed at the time and then he goes on and scores the goal.
“So it is a harsh lesson, but for me it is more about us and how we performed.
“A young team having a belief, because a lot of Premiership teams will just come here and defend but we knew we had to try and play.
“We don’t have that huge targetman so we had to try and play.
“We had to move the ball really well, we had a shape and structure.
“We were fine throughout the whole game. I never felt we would lose that many goals.”
Brown was booked for protesting.
He smiled: “Willie is used to giving me yellow cards. I think he has missed me.”
Despite the defeat, Brown hailed his side’s display.
After failing behind inside ten minutes, his Championship side pushed Rangers all the way.
Brown said: “Our performance was really, really good.
“The team’s shape, structure and desire to get after the ball. We knew Rangers were going to have a lot of possession which was fine but it was build up play from the back.
“What I am more impressed with than anything is that the lads had character.
“It takes a lot of come here and play, especially when you lose an early goal because the lads could have crumbled.
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“But they had that desire and belief in themselves and they stuck to the game plan.
“They had to bring their big guns on, we brought our 19 year olds on and I thought they were exceptional. It shows you, we give the youth a chance at Ayr and we just need to make sure we keep that belief, that it continues.”
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