I’m not entirely sure why Rangers feel the need to have gone so robust, they may well be irritated, disappointed and playing to the gallery to the 4,000 fans they would’ve brought to the Dundee game but I think it’s a bit ridiculous and hypocritical.
Soon some of those pesky internet bampots were on it with their screenshots, those wannabe and failed reporters set the Record and Jackson trending, something that they generally welcome but not in these circumstances.
Slightly more subtly Beaton made a succession of ‘puzzling’ decisions on free kicks with the 23 awarded against Celtic, despite having 46% possession, more than any senior club in Scotland or England over the whole weekend.
Walsh re referees it and thinks it’s clear and obvious… did Walsh see the touch on the ball from Johnston? …mmm
“Like many other clubs, we will continue to press for the highest standards in relation to the VAR process in Scottish football.”
His keyboard spat out over 1,100 words saying virtually nothing, offering no analysis and as expected absolutely nothing about the poison that was pouring out the four stands at Ibrox from Ally McCoist’s 48,000 fellow fans.
Less dramatically Beaton was working his influence on the match wih free kicks and yellow cards. Challenges from Celtic players almost always resulted in free kicks while their opponents had licence to do as they please by putting the boot in.
There was nothing in particular to celebrate today but in some ways there was more passion about as the players and management were given a send off that none of them will have previously experienced.
But there will be moments when Rodgers’ side are on top and, if Ibrox turns, it could be difficult for Clement’s players.
If Beaton didn’t get Sunday’s match it would have been the post-split fixture at Celtic Park or a possible Scottish Cup Final. Ibrox on Sunday is definitely the lesser evil of the three options.