John Lundstram in penalty AGAINST Rangers appeal as bizarre Dundee moment sparks awkward climbdown
The midfielder quickly backtracked after the ball appeared to strike John Souttar on the arm.
It was a night where either side could have used a penalty to break the deadlock - and it appears that John Lundstram almost accidentally landed Rangers in hot water against Dundee with a surprise appeal.
There was no love from the travelling support at Dens Park as Philippe Clement watched his side gift Celtic more leeway in the title race as they failed to take advantage of their game in hand against Dundee during the goalless stalemate - with Brendan Rodgers' men sitting three points clear at the summit and boasting a superior goal difference. But things could have gone from bad to worse had a bizarre appeal for a spot-kick against Rangers from their own midfielder to referee Don Robertson.
The ball appeared to strike John Souttar on the arm on the edge of the box following a heavy touch from Lyall Cameron. The Scouser raised his arm before quickly lowering before Cameron and the Dark Blues players protest to Robertson.
Eagle-eyed fans caught Lundstram throwing up his arm to protest the offence when the ball catches Souttar. One punter said on X: "Lundstram claims handball and then remembers which box it’s at." Another joked: "Stonewall penalty - even Lundstram agrees."
Whistler Robertson would allow play to continue and the team in the VAR room would back up the man in the middle that the on-field call was correct. Former Ibrox striker Kenny Miller backed up the referee for his call on Sky Sports.
He said: "It hits John Souttar on the hand, it comes off his leg first. There's also a case it might be outside the box. He (John Souttar) looks relieved actually!"