Rangers earned a 4-0 win overt St. Mirren on Saturday afternoon.
BBC Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Steven Thompson have accused Rangers striker Jermain Defoe of diving to win his side’s second penalty in the 4-0 triumph over St. Mirren on Saturday.
Referee Andy Dallas – who has come under plenty of criticism of late – awarded Rangers four penalties, three of which the Gers scored. James Tavernier scored two of three, while Defoe also netted from the spot.
Ryan Kent got the fourth after good work from Defoe, but the 57-time England cap has come under criticism for the Gers’ second penalty, which Tavernier missed by hitting the post.
A loose ball found its way to Defoe, who cut inside Paul McGinn before going to ground – though he did get straight back up. In that time, though, Dallas had awarded Rangers a second penalty, which Tavernier missed.
Ex-Hibernian and Hearts midfielder Stewart and former Rangers striker Thompson reckon Defoe dived.
Stewart said: “For me, there isn’t any contact. If there is, it’s the smallest of contacts and it’s not enough to go down. When you talk about simulation, I don’t believe he should have been booked. He’s down and he’s straight back up. But it is simulation.
Thompson said: “Simply, it is simulation and he should have been booked. There is nothing to put Defoe on to the ground there. It is a dive.”
Rangers kept the pressure on Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of the table, as well as cementing themselves into second place in the Scottish Premiership after Kilmarnock lost to Hearts.
The Gers are next in action on Wednesday night as they travel to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen in what is likely to be a tough clash against Derek McInnes’ side. Celtic, meanwhile, take on Hibernian at Parkhead.
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